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.

phone and texted Percival,

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

expression from

the Ellington family's

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

imagination. A mere toss had broken

the timely hospital visit, he might have lost his

limped to the couch. "I'm going stir-crazy lying in

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

waved her off impatiently. "Never mind me. What about

Fiona was good to him. How could he just throw her out of the company?" "I told you, I should have joined the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now look what's happened. What

are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out how

second branch, with

she was out, they had lost

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

was not her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings that

also needed the Ellington Group's resources and connections, even using their transportation

was her

to deliver as promised, it

unknown number on her phone.

in our hands, being moved as you

a close eye. I'll find a way to

her fingertips, her usually cool face fading to

an unfamiliar number

she answered,

replied,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

Fiona had

prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former

Calista had also become reclusive.

can I do for you?" Fiona asked, her voice smooth, the earlier darkness

cheerful voice came through. "Got