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?"

his reasons, which Shane and Dante 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

found out!"

now?" Shane was

quicker on the uptake, suddenly asking, "You mean Vivienne

just be Winnie!" Arthur

looked so much like Winnie, and though he hadn't met Karen, the brief conversation with Vivienne was enough for him

been searching for might

hesitated, "But Karen was Scott's girlfriend... It's still unclear whose child

many secrets. However, they had discovered

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

at Dante. "Vivienne is my daughter! She's the one

he

after leaving Scott, any child she had would

Vivienne was already twenty-one.

sliced it, she was his

One look at Karen, and he could

bother with a slow investigation when he had a lead? He'd been searching slowly because he lacked any clue. Now with a clue in

and Dante wanted

chatter. If my wife gets away, are you going

Whatever she needs,

Dante

one causing trouble for

Are you questioning me? Why

Shane, Dante: ...

chance to respond, Arthur instructed the

was quiet, with fewer than a dozen

of the researchers

was taken aback for a

hadn't expected anyone in the lab

your visit. Please, follow me," the researcher said, leading

set of