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

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

expression from those words -

of the Ellington

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

A

were not for the timely hospital visit, he might have

limped to the couch. "I'm going stir-crazy lying

in agony. It was

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

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.

nearby, equally furious, shouting upstairs to Fiona's room, "Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out how

with half their savings coming from her commissions at the

had lost a significant

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

her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings that

was not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's resources and connections,

was her

If she failed to deliver as

on her

in our hands, being moved

eye. I'll find a way to

fingertips, her usually cool face fading

an unfamiliar number

she answered, "Who's

voice replied, "Ms., I'm

Fiona paused.

Calista?

had heard of Calista in

of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the

Calista had also become

can I do for you?" Fiona asked, her

cheerful voice came through. "Got time for