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.]

from

the house of the Ellington family's second

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

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

for the timely hospital visit, he

limped to the couch. "I'm

was useless; he was in agony.

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

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

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

second branch, with half

they had

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

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

in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's

her livelihood,

she had signed agreements. If she failed to deliver as

dialed an unknown number on

hands, being moved as you

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

rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool

unfamiliar number

she

voice replied, "Ms., I'm

Fiona paused.

Calista?

had heard of Calista in their

once-proclaimed prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former

also become

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

voice came through. "Got time for a