The Million-Dollar Heart

Astrid fidgeted nervously beside Vivienne, apparently still wracked with guilt over the previous day's events.

Vivienne, unfazed, glanced at Astrid with eyes as soft as a strawberry cheesecake and stood up.

Astrid halted her with a call, "Vivienne."

Vivienne's lips curved into a smile, her bright eyes flashing with disinterest. "What is it?"

Astrid rose and approached her, lifting her shirt.

On her slender waist was a hideous black scar.

A knife wound, poisoned.

Astrid clenched her fist. "I got this on a mission when I fell into the enemy's trap. Now, I still suffer from the pain, especially when it rains, my whole body aches.

Vivienne, I'm not trying to gain your sympathy. I just want to tell you that we've sacrificed our lives to ensure that our organization can develop a defense against the biochemical weapons of rival nations.

So, on behalf of the organization and our country, I'm inviting you to join our fight!"

Vivienne's gaze fell on the scar on Astrid's waist.

It was clearly real.

She grasped Astrid's wrist and felt for her pulse.

The poison had been lurking in her body for years; she, indeed, had suffered greatly.

Vivienne casually took out a life-saving pill and popped it into Astrid's mouth. "This poison isn't hard to cure. Just come to me once a day."

After a pause, she added, "I'm quite interested in what you've said. I'll give it a try."

Astrid froze, surprised. "You mean you agree?"

Vivienne nodded slightly. "Yeah, but I'm out if your experiments don't meet my standards."

"Great. You'll find our experiments fascinating," Astrid said with a smile. "I'll notify the organization and see when they can take you to the lab." With that, Astrid went into her room.

Looking at her door, Vivienne let a sly smile creep onto her face.

and texted Percival, [How's

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

see Vivienne's cunning expression from those words - like a

house of the Ellington

doctor said you can't get out of bed yet," Heloise said, her heart aching for

A mere toss had broken Jeffrey's

for the timely hospital visit,

the couch. "I'm

there was useless; he was in agony.

me. What about Fiona? Why was she kicked

her out of the company?" "I told you, I should have joined the company instead

equally furious, shouting upstairs to Fiona's room, "Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way?

the Ellington family's second branch, with half their savings coming

had lost

room, ignoring her parents' and Jeffrey's complaints below.

not her most pressing concern.

business was not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's resources and connections, even

was her livelihood, her

If she failed to

number on her

our hands, being

Keep a close eye. I'll find a way to get

fingertips,

unfamiliar number

hesitating, she

voice replied, "Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

not close, but Fiona had heard of

medicine, the cheap daughter of the

Calista had also become reclusive. Why was she calling

for you?" Fiona asked, her

voice came through. "Got time for a