The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 539

Vivienne froze for a moment.

Was Maddox implying that she should carry on with this contract?

"Exactly as you're thinking," Maddox slid the contract toward Vivienne. "The Perez family has its own fish to fry these days, not focusing on bionic tech. And I know the reason the Ashfords have stood the test of time has a lot to do with this project."

He paused, his gaze growing intense before he continued, "The person who got the Ashfords involved in the first place was your mother, Karen, right?"

Vivienne nodded but remained tight-lipped.

She was not ready to stir the pot with the Perez family's waters still uncharted.

"Vivienne, only the Perez and the Boyd families are in on the bionic tech secret. Your mother managed to bring this concept to life, and it's nearly identical to what the Perez family envisioned. I think she must have seen their initial concept draft. I'm not saying she copied or stole it. I'm just saying..."

"Uncle, I get what you're trying to say."

Vivienne smiled at Maddox.

She knew he was beginning to question her identity.

If her mother had indeed introduced those concepts, matching the Perez family's ideas, it only meant she had some connection with them.

If that was the case, could Karen perhaps be Sasha?

Maddox hesitated to voice his suspicion, fearing another disappointment.

Vivienne tucked the contract away. "Thanks, Uncle. I'll take it from here and push the research forward."

Maddox nodded. "Yeah, I believe in you."

He also believed that she must be his niece, his sister's daughter.

But with a paternity test looming, this was a matter that still needed resolution!

...

At the Ashford Mansion.

The arrest of Eliza came as an abrupt blow, derailing Patrick's many schemes.

Eliza was now the sole survivor of the Boyd lineage, and Patrick had intended to consolidate his power by winning over the Boyd Group’s shareholders with her help. It would save him a great deal of trouble.

Plus, she was supposed to retrieve the Boyd family signet ring from Vivienne, and the contract was supposed to be in her possession.

But now, with her under lock and key and the murder footage spreading like wildfire online, no one could bail her out.

Patrick turned pale with anger.

What he thought was his trump card had become utterly useless.

"Dad, you've been pacing for ages; you're making my head spin. What's going on with Eliza? Did she really kill Wendy?" Gillian had woken up to see Patrick pacing and was clueless about the unfolding events.

Her mind was still preoccupied with dreams of marrying Percival.

Patrick sat down and asked, "Gillian, has Mara called you recently?"

"No, with their family in such a mess, why would she bother? Besides, I don't want to deal with her anymore. Percival has already cut ties with them, so she's useless to me now." Gillian snorted with disdain for her once close friend.

Why bother with someone useless?

Their friendship was one of mutual exploitation, nothing more.

Patrick frowned. "Gillian, call Mara. Tell her to find a way to get close to Vivienne and retrieve the Boyd family signet ring. And try to find the contract Wendy left behind. Tell her you can help her turn things around."

Gillian was puzzled. "Dad, you still want to entangle with them? A family full of criminals?"