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,

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

almost see Vivienne's cunning expression from

house of the

you can't get out of bed yet," Heloise

beyond their imagination. A mere toss had

it were not for the timely hospital visit,

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

was in agony. It was better to

waved her off impatiently. "Never mind me. What about Fiona? Why was she kicked

him. How could he just throw her out of the company?" "I told you, I should have joined the company instead of

shouting upstairs to Fiona's room, "Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back

the Ellington family's second branch, with

had lost a significant source

complaints below. She put

concern. It

not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's resources

her livelihood, her

signed agreements. If she failed to deliver as promised, it could cost her her

unknown number on

hands, being moved as

find a

call, Fiona rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool face fading to

an unfamiliar

she answered,

woman's voice replied, "Ms., I'm

Fiona paused.

Calista?

close, but Fiona had heard of Calista in

prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the

Calista had also become

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

through. "Got time for a