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.

mother, hadn't

whom he had met

knew he still hadn't

a touch of exasperation, "Mr.

her head, showing empathy, "You've worked hard,

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

his jaw, "That's quite enough,

she swiftly launched a silver needle from

B's control over his legs vanished, and with

with Mr. Wolf, do not interrupt. It displeases me," Vivienne's eyes glinted with a cold edge, adding a chilling beauty to her already enchanting face. Mr. B gripped

of whether it was Vivienne, Percival, or even Leopold, Mr. B

well-trained individual could easily dodge a bullet. And even if hit by chance, Mr. B

rendered useless, escape was out of the question. He needed to wait for the

wore a subtle smirk, "Mr. B, you didn't actually think you'd get the chance to pull the trigger,

realizing his fingers

smug face and understood that he had been drugged

message from Thomas: [Subject is secure, no

phone,

forward and subdued the defenseless Mr. B, handcuffing him with the restraints he had learned to carry 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 fool her eyes. Did you really think you were flawless?" Mr. B froze upon hearing Leopold's

It all made sense.

prided himself on his flawless disguise, yet Vivienne had

hailed from the Emerald Monastery, a disciple of

research had shown that Vivienne did not practice phrenology, nor had she ever

looked up at Vivienne, forcing a smile, "You've played along with my charade for quite

you are, you can't imitate the warmth in Astrid's eyes.

talent for phrenology exceeded even her master's. Finnian often remarked she was a

the age of twenty-five, she was forbidden from reading fortunes, lest she risk her

master's warning

the ability to read bone structure, a