The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 1161

Arnold stepped forward, teasing Brooke as her eyes welled up with tears, "If you really can't hold it in, how about you save those tears for when Bobby and I tie the knot?"

"You're impossible!" The mood was instantly ruined by Arnold's jest, and Brooke lost any inclination to be sentimental.

Anna had just left the convenience store, planning to hail a cab to the lab, when Soren hurried up behind her. "It's kinda tough to catch a cab around here. Let me give you a lift; I need to check some stuff at the lab anyway." Anna was about to decline but, catching Soren's earnest look, she swallowed her words. "That would be great, thanks."

Even though they had cleared the air between them, Anna couldn't shake off a feeling of unease. Was this the awkward phase?

Their ride to the lab was marked by silence until they arrived.

Taking a deep breath, Soren glanced at Anna, his usual bravado replaced by a sheepish tone. "About yesterday, I'm sorry. I jumped the gun, thinking you were defending him. I didn't really get your relationship, so, you know..." Anna couldn't help but laugh at the thought, her sudden laughter cutting through the tension in the car.

Soren, catching on, exhaled in relief. "I was holding back from reaching out, afraid you'd block me or something."

"I wouldn't do that," Anna replied. "Aside from everything else, you're still my team leader."

Relieved, they headed into the lab together.

Upon their arrival, they found Vivienne laying into Brody, "This month alone, you've managed to knock over so many test tubes in my lab, fifty of them shattered. Each costs sixty grand, so you better start writing that check!" "My word, what kind of test tubes are those?" Brody retorted, disbelief in his voice as he confronted Vivienne, "You're not trying to scam me, are you? With your wealth, and here you are, nickel-and-diming me!"

Vivienne scoffed, "My sweat and tears are in those tubes. If my research pans out, each could be worth six million. You getting off with sixty grand is a steal."

The standoff continued as Soren and Anna entered, unnoticed, and went about their business, leaving the battleground to the combatants.

Vivienne, seeing Brody's stubbornness, decided to list every item he'd damaged over the years.

Ultimately, Brody caved, grudgingly transferring money to her as she watched, only leaving once the transaction was confirmed.

Before leaving, Vivienne glanced at Soren and Anna, noting a change in their dynamic. It seemed they had cleared the air.

"That's good. It's better they didn't let a small misunderstanding come between them," she thought.

Anna, exiting with reports in hand, felt uneasy under Vivienne's meaningful gaze. "Ms. Vivienne, here are the reports you wanted. I've organized everything for you."

Vivienne accepted the reports with her usual demeanor, leaving Anna puzzled.

Then, with a smile, Vivienne asked, "So, you and Soren sorted things out?"

Anna stiffened, caught off guard by Vivienne's insight. "Sort of, we just talked it through," she replied vaguely.

"Good to hear," Vivienne said, collecting the reports. "Let me know when the wedding is, so I can come celebrate."

"There's nothing like that, Ms. Vivienne!" Anna hastened to clarify, worried Soren might overhear. Little did she know, Soren was right behind her, listening as she awkwardly tried to dismiss Vivienne's teasing. Embarrassed, Anna knew despite Soren's interest, their relationship was just starting. Nothing had really happened yet.

"Looks like Soren has his work cut out for him," Vivienne remarked, glancing past Anna at Soren behind her.

After leaving them with a playful look, Vivienne departed, leaving Anna's heart racing.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Soren approached, "How about dinner tonight?"

His serious tone made Anna blush, missing the red tint on Soren's ears.

After a moment, she whispered, "Sure."

"Is it really happening?" Griffin nearly jumped out of bed in excitement.

"Careful there," Vivienne warned, understanding why the Martinez family was always so worried about Griffin. She seemed to forget she was pregnant in her excitement.

"I can't help it; I get thrilled hearing

gossip," Griffin chuckled, then

quickly turned her thoughts back to Vivienne's story. "I had no idea there was so much going on between them But with all the missions they run at the agency, how did they replace the time to fall for each other?"

Considering the challenges Anna and Soren faced together, Griffin found it hard to imagine them having a moment to develop feelings amidst the chaos.

"Always being together, especially in moments of crisis and protection, how could they not fall for each other?" Vivienne mused, popping a cherry into her mouth. Thinking it over, Griffin had to agree. If she were in those shoes, she'd fall head over heels too.

Griffin's barrage of questions about

when Anna and Soren could tie the knot, and who would babysit during the couple's post-birth recovery period,

y choked Vivienne omet

her cherry pit. Was Griffin getting ahead of herself? It seemed like the ink had barely dried on their relationship status, and here she was, planning their entire future.

Watching Griffin nearly ready to brainstorm baby names for Anna and Soren's hypothetical children, Vivienne quickly intervened, "They've only just made their feelings clear to each other. Soren's still in the courting phase with Anna. Why are you rushing them?"

But Griffin saw things differently. "If they're both into each other, why all the hesitation? Is it all about the ritual for them?"

She remembered how, when Leopold had finally made his move, she'd been ready to jump in with both feet. After all, they had missed each other for so long, only to finally understand their feelings. Weren't Anna and Soren the same? While Vivienne and Griffin were dissecting the situation, Anna and Soren had already left the lab.

They headed to a restaurant Soren had picked out, a place that brought back memories every time he saw its familiar sign, though he was used to it by now.

"Come on, this place has great food," Soren said, leading Anna inside.

The sight of the enlarged "Couples' Theme" sign made Anna's cheeks flush with heat as she followed Soren in.

Not long after their arrival, two more familiar faces walked in, greeted warmly by the smiling host.