The Million-Dollar Heart

At the Perez Mansion.

Jasper, balancing a box of strawberry shortcake, made his way inside.

Natalia and Yasmine blinked their dewy eyes and scampered towards Jasper in unison.

Zelda was engrossed in a YouTube tutorial, trying to master the art of the perfect strawberry shortcake.

"Dad, didn't you go play chess with Richard? What brings you back so soon?" Zelda asked, setting aside her lopsided whipped cream to greet him.

Jasper opened the shortcake box and divided it into two generous slices for the eagerly waiting Natalia and Yasmine.

He waved off her concern with a smile. "Richard got wind that Vivienne and her grandson leaped off a cliff. Rushed off to check on them."

Zelda gasped, startled. She had been preoccupied with her cake-making venture all day and had not caught any news. "A cliff? What happened?"

"Nothing serious, just a rescue mission. Vivienne and Percival are quite the capable pair," Jasper chuckled.

Jasper had known about Vivienne and Percival's heroic act at the racetrack since the previous night and had already dispatched Yuri to gather details. Even the intel about the engineer had been discreetly passed on to Leopold by Yuri.

So, his worry had long since passed.

Zelda breathed a sigh of relief. "You gave me quite the scare. I'll have to remind Vivienne to steer clear of danger next time. How terrifying."

Jasper glanced at the yard, where beaten eggs and cream were strewn about - even on Natalia and Yasmine. Sighing, he said, "Zelda, maybe you should steer clear of danger yourself." Zelda rubbed her nose with a grin. "No worries, I'm safe. The oven hasn't exploded yet."

Jasper did not protest further. His daughter-in-law was always chasing whims; last time, it was an obsession with braiding Natalia and Yasmine's hair, which nearly ended with the girls being bald. Now, it was strawberry shortcake, and who knew how long that phase would last?

As they were talking, Yuri arrived home, also carrying a box of strawberry shortcake, and began to clean up the eggshells from the girls. "Zelda, have Eva wash them. Look at their little faces." Zelda put down her utensils, knowing Yuri had matters to discuss with Jasper, and took the girls to bathe.

the oven Zelda had left

from back then. I've looked into the engineer

- Percival and his right-hand man have been suspended, and Leopold's been reassigned to the outskirts, away from core operations. Apparently, Fiona submitted a statement to the higher-ups involving some confidential

it. We can't let them

to leave, Jasper stopped him with his cane, pointing at the chaotic front yard. "Clean this up and find a proper place for your wife to bake, would you?" Yuri sighed silently. "Zelda

at the bowls of unsuccessfully separated eggs, already dreading the egg-heavy meals ahead. In the Perez Mansion,

Anna came home from school to

got results – unlike Charlotte, who would play with Thaddeus

ruffling Thaddeus's hair and handing

stroke, grabbed the PSP, and scampered to his room for some advanced

the door firmly behind them. "Ms. Vivienne, I can't reach headquarters, but Hotshot sent me a coded message telling me not

"Alright, I

Husky's been sent to the outskirts, Captain Charlotte's been suspended, Hotshot is on standby

Vivienne. "Is something going

sprawled lazily on the bed.

to pick him up before I leave each day.

a few more days, and it'll be over," Vivienne said, stretching on the bed, feeling sleepy

"Ms. Vivienne, how many more days

to face Anna, propping her head with one hand. "What's up?" Anna bit

Oh?

up

keeps hanging around Elite University, getting in the way.

voice trailed off, leaving Vivienne all ears

sat up, clutching her throw pillow, and stared at Anna with

weary sigh, "He even paraded around with a bouquet of roses every day. It's like