The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne chuckled softly, "Just a small issue. Drink more water, and cut down on soft drinks. The toxins might be flushed out, but don't overlook the aftereffects. Keep hydrating to wash away any remnants." "Thanks, Vivienne," Astrid replied, pouring Vivienne a glass of water. "I'll be heading back to work at the office in a few days. I'm going to need you to keep an eye on things at home. It's been..." "No need for a speech," Vivienne interjected as Astrid started to get sentimental.

Astrid grinned. "What can I do? You're just too lovable. Even chatting with you feels like a breath of fresh air."

Sometimes, she wondered if she had saved the galaxy in a past life since this lifetime had blessed her with such a wonderful sister.

She could not be there to care for her parents or look after her little brother Thaddeus properly. Without Vivienne, she was at a loss.

And this time, if not for Vivienne, she might have... Well, she might not have made it at all.

As an agent for the National Security Bureau, she was acutely aware of the grim fate awaited someone like her if captured by enemy spies.

If not for Mr. B needing her DNA to conceal her identity and Alfred wanting to wring state secrets from her, she would have been silenced long ago.

Their last attempt to transfer her was meant to be the end of her. Her hair and eyes were more than sufficient to get her DNA.

If Vivienne had not found her in time, she would have faced not just death but the horror of being left unrecognizable.

Vivienne tapped her wrist lightly. "If you feel awkward about it, how about we pull some strings? What do you say?" Astrid paused for a moment. "Pull some strings?"

"Yeah," said Vivienne, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"What are you up to, Vivienne?" Astrid asked, puzzled.

Vivienne pulled out a document from her bag, an idea she had had since leaving the TIC Research Institute.

She had yet to find the right opportunity to implement it.

But with Astrid's connections, they could surely find the perfect place.

Astrid glanced over the document and declared, "I'll report this to our superiors right away."

Her decisiveness outpaced even Cordelia. Before Vivienne could respond, Astrid was already on the phone with her boss.

not help but

realized where Thaddeus got his slow nature-it

took after

solid. The country will definitely back it up. We'll provide the location for free, but all findings must comply with national regulations and pass

"Agreed," Nodded Vivienne.

the nation; she

stowed away her belongings and

waiting outside and escorted her

he was in a particularly good

and presented Vivienne with a

times she saw it, Vivienne's eyes lit up at the

nothing. I'll trade you

opened it and chuckled. "Only you

had been planning to relocate the TCL lab, and

enjoying the cake, Vivienne said, "I want to merge the TCL lab with the YQ lab. Our research directions are the same; there's no need for two separate

the results directly, but the credit will still go to

last wishes, to complete the research

else, it mattered little

his mentor, feeling a twinge of

set up the TCL lab to carry on

more

it would have the nation's endorsement, keeping

on upper-level approvals

idea," Percival said, about to pull her close when she turned, swiftly polishing off the last of

look like I'm

silent response was,

the last bite. "Mr. Wolf, I traded you

Suddenly, noticing the trace of cream on her lips, he leaned in and kissed it

cream and the sweetness of strawberries could

surge of