The Million-Dollar Heart

Melissa was a wreck for a whole week when she heard the news of Karen's passing. Even now, just the thought of it could bring tears to her eyes.

Karen reached out and wiped the tear from Melissa's eye. "Come on, even your kids all grown up now. You shouldn't be crying like when you were a little girl."

Vivienne handed her a tissue. "Here, wipe your tears."

Melissa looked up at Vivienne and then at Karen. "Auntie Karen, Vivienne's had a tough time with the Brooks family. Now that you and Jasper are here, I want to apologize on behalf of the Brooks to both you and Vivienne."

With that, Melissa bent forward in a deep bow.

Vivienne lifted her back up. "Auntie, you're making us feel like strangers."

"That's right, if you keep this up, I'll get cross," Karen said, patting Melissa's back. "Isn't it great that we're all here together now?"

Melissa nodded vigorously. "Yeah, you're right. It's nice, just like this."

Vance watched from the side, well aware of the hardships Karen and Vivienne had endured over the years because of Scott and his organization. He knew that a mere apology or bow could not make up for it all.

But none of that mattered when it came to his beloved.

He put a comforting arm around Melissa's shoulders, saying, "Melissa, we've finally got a chance to catch up with Karen. Let's not dwell on the unhappy stuff. How about we talk about something cheerful?" "Sure, Karen, let's go chat over there." Melissa affectionately linked arms with Karen, and they made their way over to where Zelda was.

Vance, Vivienne, and the ever-silent Jasper went to Jasper's study in unspoken agreement.

Vance was aware that Vivienne's invitation to join the Perez gathering was not just for pleasantries.

Inside the study, Percival was already there, serving coffee like a perfect gentleman.

Vance was surprised; he had not expected Percival to be at the Perez Mansion and was even more taken aback to see him waiting in the study.

been put through the wringer this time," Jasper said as

replied, "Jasper, you flatter me. I had no idea Lark was your

formalities. I've heard from Percival that you're quite interested in

who was busy pouring

to the ancient warrior lineage. After

laugh was knowing. He was

Vein until they could return it to Ulysses Sheldon. But they were too late, and the Edwards

the Edwards family and Vance's parents died

in their complete downfall, and then suffering such karma-how could that not

no saint and

not expected was for Vance to be part of the Vanguard Agency and to have

Vance had climbed the ranks so quickly, only to realize he wanted to confront the

to you that the misfortunes of the Edwards family could be the result of your own making?"

parents' sudden deaths-that they were due to the

tone was charged with emotion, and

tapped the tabletop. "Vance, don't get worked up. Whatever has befallen the Edwards has nothing to do with the Sheldon family. On the contrary, you might want to consider whether the fault lies with your own

furrowed with frustration. "What do you mean

a contract from his briefcase, a document between the Edwards

Mr. Percy? Are you trying to meddle with whom

mention of the ancient warrior lineage and the Sheldons stirred

to the signature page of the contract, pointing to the name of the other party. "Don't you want

then looked closely-the chairman was none other than

"You really didn't know? When the company went through the whole rebranding shindig and changed the CEO's name, we penned a new deal with your