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.

her phone and

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

almost see Vivienne's cunning expression from those

of the Ellington family's

get out of bed

beyond their imagination. A mere toss had

for the timely hospital visit, he might have

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

there was useless; he was in

impatiently. "Never mind me.

Heloise bristled with anger. "What else? 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?"

"Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out how to ask your grandpa to

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

they had

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

not her most pressing concern. It was

not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group's resources and connections, even using their transportation to

her livelihood, her

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

dialed an unknown number on her phone.

our hands, being moved

eye. I'll find a way to get

call, Fiona rubbed her fingertips, her

an unfamiliar

hesitating, she

woman's voice replied,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

had heard of Calista in their

prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap

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

can I do for you?" Fiona asked, her

voice came through. "Got time for