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

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

from

house of the Ellington family's

The doctor said you can't get out of

beyond their imagination. A mere toss

it were not for the timely hospital visit, he might have lost his

the couch. "I'm

was useless; he was in agony. It was better to move

"Never mind me. What about Fiona? Why was

isn't any better. No matter what, Fiona was good to him. How could he just throw her out of

can get back into

second branch, with half their savings coming from her commissions at

she was out, they had lost a

ignoring her parents' and Jeffrey's complaints below. She put on headphones, locked the door, and tuned

ousted from the company was not her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings that

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

was her livelihood, her

she failed to deliver as promised,

dialed an unknown number on her

our hands, being moved as you

find a way

fingertips, her usually cool face

an unfamiliar number

hesitating, she answered, "Who's

woman's voice replied, "Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

were not close, but Fiona had heard

of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former Brooks family

also become reclusive.

asked, her voice

came through. "Got time for