The Million-Dollar Heart

Outside the courthouse, Arthur hopped into his car without a second glance.

Seeing this, Shane hurried over, his voice full of panic. "Arthur, you're leaving just like that?"

Arthur waved dismissively, "Yeah, I'm off. You guys head back!"

Shane was visibly frustrated. "But how are we supposed to explain this to the boss? We were sent here on a mission!"

"What's there to explain? I've been single for nearly fifty years for the sake of the country. Do I not deserve a wife and kids for my sacrifice? Doesn't the boss owe me that much?" Arthur declared righteously.

Shane was speechless. "You've got a point, but you haven't found your true love yet. You randomly decided to hand Harrison and Gavin over to Vivienne, and now the higher-ups are going to be furious. Those two were key to wrapping this whole operation up..."

Before Shane could finish, Arthur cut him off, "Nothing is more important than finding my wife and daughter! Tell the boss I'm done. I'm off to find my wife!"

"What?"

Shane and the newly arrived Dante were stunned.

Was this even allowed?

Quitting on the spot without a formal resignation?

He was just going to leave with a few words?

Shaking off his shock, Shane quickly said, "Look, Arthur, we're all for you finding a wife, but that doesn't mean you have to quit your job!"

He hadn't heard the conversation between Arthur and Vivienne in the courtroom.

"It absolutely does! I've already managed to upset my own daughter! If I don't make it up to her by sending those two her way, who's going to take care of me when I'm old?" Arthur exploded.

"What?" Shane and Dante were utterly confused. "Daughter? Arthur, since when do you have a daughter? How come we didn't know?"

were privy to. They had been helping Arthur look for someone ever since he returned to the country. Yet, they hadn't found any leads, and they certainly hadn't heard anything about

just found

Just now?" Shane

suddenly asking, "You mean Vivienne is your daughter? But wasn't

just be Winnie!"

he hadn't met Karen,

Winnie he had been searching for might just be

girlfriend... It's

secrets. However, they had discovered that Vivienne wasn't

Karen was the Winnie in Arthur's heart, after so many years apart,

my daughter! She's

him, but he was certain she was

had found someone else after leaving Scott, any child she

Vivienne was already twenty-one.

matter how you sliced it, she

slowly. One look at Karen, and he could confirm whether she was Winnie. If she

investigation when he had a lead? He'd been searching slowly because he

and Dante

with the chatter. If my wife gets away,

Whatever she needs, give it

and Dante

the one causing trouble for Vivienne from

questioning me? Why would I reject my own

Shane, Dante: ...

Shane and Dante a chance to respond, Arthur instructed the

quiet, with fewer than a dozen people

of the

aback for a moment

anyone in the

your visit. Please, follow

her own set