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 soon

me. I had no

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

at Percival, who was busy pouring coffee for Vivienne and not looking

then smoothed again, "Yes, Jasper, you might know that my family, the Edwards, are connected by marriage to the ancient warrior lineage. After the Sheldon family met their demise, we took possession

He was well aware of

fall of the Sheldon family, the Perez family had considered keeping the Mystic Vein until they could return it to Ulysses Sheldon. But

and when the head of the Edwards family and Vance's parents died under mysterious circumstances, it was

their complete downfall, and then suffering such karma-how could

saint and felt

for Vance to be part of the Vanguard Agency and

climbed the ranks so quickly,

to you that the misfortunes of the Edwards family could be the result

and my parents' sudden deaths-that they were due to the Sheldon family's curse? What exactly is

charged with emotion,

tabletop. "Vance, don't get worked up. Whatever has befallen the Edwards has nothing to do with the Sheldon family. On

with frustration. "What do you mean

a

with whom the Edwards Group

the ancient warrior lineage and the Sheldons stirred Vance's

of the other party. "Don't you want to see the name of

was momentarily taken aback, then looked closely-the

coffee in her hands, took a sip, and said with a smirk, "You really didn't know? When the company went through the whole