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.

out her phone and texted

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

see Vivienne's cunning expression from those words -

the Ellington family's

doctor said you can't get out of bed

strength was beyond their imagination. A mere toss had broken Jeffrey's

it were not for the timely hospital

couch. "I'm going stir-crazy lying

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

mind me. What about Fiona? Why was she

what, 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 we supposed to do now? Wait to

Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out how to ask

second branch, with half

they had lost a significant

complaints below.

concern.

not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington

her

If she failed to deliver as promised, it could cost

unknown number on her phone.

still in our hands, being moved as you

find a way to

rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool face fading to

unfamiliar

hesitating, she answered,

replied,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

but Fiona had heard of Calista in

of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former Brooks

become reclusive. Why was she calling

you?" Fiona asked, her voice smooth, the earlier darkness

through. "Got time