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 Percival,

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

from those words - like a

the Ellington

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

imagination. A mere toss had

were not for the timely hospital visit, he might have lost

"I'm going

he was in agony. It was

me. What about Fiona? Why was she

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?"

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

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

they had lost a significant source of

her parents' and Jeffrey's complaints below. She put on headphones,

pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings that weighed on

art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's

was her livelihood,

If she failed to deliver as promised, it could

dialed an unknown number on her phone. "How's it

still in our hands,

eye. I'll find a way

rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool

unfamiliar

hesitating, she answered, "Who's

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

Fiona paused.

Calista?

but Fiona had heard of Calista in their

medicine, the cheap daughter of

also become reclusive. Why was she

I do for you?" Fiona asked, her voice

cheerful voice came through. "Got time for a