The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne lifted her hand with a delicate motion, her fingertips brushing against Vance's.

The contact sent a jolt of pain through Vance's finger, causing him to slump back onto the couch, but his eyes remained locked on Vivienne with intensity. "Sure, Lark and Ashen Pigeon and I didn't see eye to eye, but our beef was strictly professional. I have no reason to off her, so show some respect, will ya?"

His agitation caught Vivienne off guard. She had obviously struck a nerve.

Still cradling his wrist, Vance stared at her, "Neither you nor Micah have any ground to suspect me. I admit I've got a grudge against the ancient warrior lineages, and I use my job to dig around. But as an agen of Vanguard Agency, from field operative to the director I am today, I've honored every mission and every badge I've ever worn on my uniform!

Look, Vivienne, Percival, you can accuse me of neglect, of not caring about the future and safety of my agents, but you can never question my commitment to Vanguard Agency!"

In Percival's eyes, Vance was far from a model director. In fact, he did not even deserve the title.

Sacrificing his own people for personal gain, landing them in military prison while acting like nothing happened, seeing them meet their ends without lifting a finger... Such a man did not inspire Percival's respect.

But he could not deny the truth in Vance's words.

The room fell silent for a few minutes, with no one speaking.

After some time, Vance's emotions seemed to stabilize. "My mission for the Frostfire Intelligence Agency still stands. Next time you swing by, I expect news about your mentor."

It was a clear dismissal, and his tone was less than friendly.

Vivienne looked back at Vance.

He seemed to be shackled by his obsessions.

An obsession with the ancient warrior lineages, with the Sheldon family.

She had seen the medical records of Vance's parents before they died, which had nothing to do with some karmic cycle.

toxins and substances, lying dormant in the body before finally manifesting and causing a

Group affair. Perhaps

Group, Vance's folks often returned to the

only after the Edwards Group secured hefty health insurance for their workers that the issue

definitely problematic. However, Vance's parent's deaths were certainly not due to karma. The matter was only draped in a shroud of mystery because of the Sheldon family's line of work. In a way, Vance was indeed a

to spill about Rover. Otherwise, you can kiss any chance of finding

was Vivienne's

enigma, always blurry in photos, leaving no trace in the entire Vanguard

had not sensed him stepping in for

you want to know about Rover? Vivienne, your mom's death was suicide. It's got nothing to do with anyone in Vanguard Agency, least of all Rover. He was more torn up about i than anyone else. Stop being

of her, blocking Vance's view. "Keep your ancient warrior lineage feud out of the agency. I'm not

She did not resist, following him to

calm of the night surrounded them. "Vivienne, the

you say that?" She

phone. "Our mystery

sure enough, it was that mystery

about the ancient

for

her only grew. She had lied to her for years! And she had always been right there, beside her! Percival ruffled

the window at the bustling streets, her bright eyes

figure to confront, to demand

Why? Why all this?