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.

phone and texted Percival, [How's it

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

from those words - like a smug

house of the

of bed yet," Heloise said, her heart aching

A

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

the couch. "I'm going

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

waved her off impatiently. "Never mind me. What

It was that wench Vivienne's doing. Percival isn't any better. 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

doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out

Ellington family's second branch, with half their

they had lost a significant source of

parents' and Jeffrey's complaints below. She put

not her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings

galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's

was her livelihood, her

she failed to deliver as promised, it could cost

an unknown number on

in our hands,

Keep a close eye. I'll find

her fingertips, her usually cool face fading to

unfamiliar

she

voice replied, "Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

had heard of Calista in

the cheap daughter of the

Calista had also become

asked, her voice smooth, the earlier darkness

voice came through. "Got