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

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

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

the Ellington

get out of bed yet," Heloise said, her

their imagination. A mere toss had

hospital visit, he might have lost his

the couch. "I'm going stir-crazy

there was useless; he was in agony. It

"Never mind me. What about Fiona? Why was she kicked

No matter 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 starve?"

Think you can get back into the company that way?

family's second branch, with half their savings coming from her commissions at the

out, they had lost a significant

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

from the company was not her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings

just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's resources and connections, even using their transportation

her livelihood, her

failed to deliver

number on her phone.

in our hands, being moved as you

Keep a close eye. I'll find

the call, Fiona rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool face

unfamiliar number

hesitating, she

woman's voice replied, "Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

had heard of Calista

traditional medicine, the cheap

Scott's arrest, Calista had also become reclusive. Why was she calling

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

came through. "Got