The Million-Dollar Heart

Astrid eyed the laboratory entrance before her, the very threshold of a top-secret national research facility she had once infiltrated with Vivienne. A sly grin tugged at the corner of her mouth as she pressed the button on the remote.

A gust of wind swept by, yet nothing ensued.

Disbelief etched across Astrid's features as she jabbed the button several more times, her expression darkening with each futile attempt.

Suddenly, she whipped out a gun, spinning around with a swift motion.

Vivienne, along with Percival and Leopold who was bemused, emerged from behind her.

Astrid showed no signs of panic; instead, a calm detachment washed over her.

"Figures, you're not one to fall for tricks so easily," Astrid declared, wielding the gun in one hand while discarding the useless remote with the other.

A flicker of regret crossed her gaze as she looked at Vivienne, "Had you joined us, our victory would've been assured by now."

Vivienne's eyes sparkled with amusement, her smile broad and radiant. "Your disguise is pathetic, Mr. B."

Mr. B, now unmasked as the impostor, gave a nonchalant shrug, making no move to remove his mask, "When did you catch on?"

Vivienne pondered for a moment, "Around the time I stumbled upon Scott, perhaps?"

Vivienne then let out a derisive chuckle, "You were too naive."

Mr. B's eyebrows rose inquisitively, "Impossible. You'd never interacted with me when you blew Scott's cover!"

A laugh escaped Vivienne, "Once wasn't enough?"

Mr. B's pupils constricted, still puzzled.

Before impersonating Astrid to get close to Vivienne, Mr. B had thoroughly researched his target. With the help of Alfred, the bumbling fool, Mr. B knew every minute detail of Astrid's life - from her catchphrases to her subtlest expressions and mannerisms.

Cordelia, her own mother, hadn't noticed anything

Vivienne, whom he had met only

expression, Vivienne knew he still hadn't grasped

a touch of exasperation, "Mr. Wolf, I told you they

showing empathy, "You've

with a note of seriousness, "Can we stay on task, please? This is a mission, not a time for public displays of

B clenched his jaw, "That's quite

together as she swiftly launched a silver needle from her

vanished, and with a thud, he

edge, adding a chilling beauty to her already enchanting face. Mr. B gripped his gun tighter

Vivienne, Percival, or even Leopold, Mr. B stood no

even if hit by chance, Mr. B was aware that he

escape was out of the question. He needed to wait for the right

a subtle smirk, "Mr. B, you didn't actually think you'd get the

paused, suddenly realizing

at Vivienne's smug face and understood that he had been drugged and

phone buzzed with a message from Thomas: [Subject is secure, no poison detected,

his phone,

at all times since capturing Scott. "Mr. B," Leopold taunted, " My Vivienne has a knack for phrenology. No matter how you change your appearance, you can't

It all made sense.

on his flawless disguise, yet Vivienne had

Emerald Monastery, a disciple of the renowned Finnian, whose greatest skill was

extensive research had shown that Vivienne did not practice phrenology, nor had she ever offered such services. So how did she discern Mr. B's true

a smile, "You've played along with my charade for quite some time. It seems we

finger, "No matter how skilled you are, you can't imitate the warmth

for phrenology exceeded even her master's. Finnian

twenty-five, she was forbidden from reading fortunes, lest she risk

warning and refrained from

possessed the ability to read bone structure, a skill unrelated to mystic arts and solely based on physical