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.

pulled out her phone and texted Percival, [How's it

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

almost see Vivienne's cunning expression from those words - like a smug little

the house of the Ellington

move. The doctor said you can't get out of bed yet,"

their imagination. A mere toss had broken Jeffrey's

the timely hospital visit, he might

limped to the couch. "I'm

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

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

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

room, "Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get

Ellington family's second branch, with half their savings coming from

they had lost a significant source

ignoring her parents' and Jeffrey's complaints below. She

pressing concern. It was

the Ellington Group's resources and connections, even using their transportation to make

her livelihood, her

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

number on

still in our hands, being moved

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

fingertips,

an unfamiliar

she answered,

replied,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

were not close, but Fiona had heard of Calista

prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter

Scott's arrest, Calista had also become

I do for you?" Fiona asked, her voice smooth,

through.