The Million-Dollar Heart

In the dimly lit basement of a house tucked away in the sleepy suburb of Rivenwood, Calista found herself inexplicably transported to this place, shrouded in darkness.

She huddled on the cold floor, with the constant, eerie sound of dripping water echoing throughout the room. Each drop seemed to land directly on her heart, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. The bruises from Mr. B's beating had not fully healed, and she winced at the occasional twinge of pain.

After what felt like an eternity, punctuated only by drifting in and out of sleep, Calista finally heard footsteps approaching.

Scrambling to kneel, she began to plead toward the sound, "Mr. B, I've done it - I've developed the Boar Poison, just like the sample you gave me. Please, I beg you, let me go!"

Click.

A blinding light suddenly filled the room, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut in pain and fear.

"You've got the wrong person, sweetheart. Stand up."

Calista's heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice, not unlike the mechanical tone Mr. B had once used before dropping her facade.

As her eyes adjusted, she could make out a figure dressed just like Mr. B - a trench coat and a fedora shadowing his face.

"You're not Mr. B?" She whispered, disbelief lacing her words.

"I'm the boss, the one she answered to. Call me boss if you like, but I'm not fond of the title. I prefer you call me F-Poison." F-Poison dusted off her coat nonchalantly. "Ah, got it. You thought I was Belle because of the outfit, right?"

Despite her terror, Calista could detect a note of amusement in the grating mechanical voice.

F-Poison's smile was there, but the aura he exuded - one of unflinching ruthlessness - was never present in Mr. B.

"Belle is Mr. B. I told her that name was too harsh, not fitting for a girl. 'Clementine' would've been much cuter. Don't you agree, Dr. Pendleton?" F-Poison squatted in front of Calista, seemingly earnest in her inquiry.

say is right..." Calista stuttered,

really. Raising her

mind raced. Mr. B - Belle was

would explain the sudden change of

she ventured, "Mr. F, what would you have

life hung by a thread, useful only for

apparent on F-Poison's face as he patted her head. "Good girl.

ask of me!" Calista agreed instantly, her survival instinct trumping

"Then brace yourself."

F-Poison struck her across the face. As Calista fell, her consciousness fading. She watched F-Poison reshape her features with

said calmly, "I don't have a choice. Vivienne recognizes people by their bones, and a simple disguise won't work. I have to reshape your bones." Feeling the beating and filled with misery, Calista blacked

At the Ellington family.

family was rarely complete, and tonight was an exception. With Fiona in her wheelchair, brought by Heloise, and even the elusive Kenneth present, there was a

sitting beside him as naturally as if she had

watched with barely veiled jealousy. Even after years of marriage into the family, she had never dared to claim such intimacy with Richard. Yet here

uncle arrives, we can start dinner," Richard announced, clearly delighted at the prospect of seeing his youngest son after so long. Vivienne caught Kenneth avoiding her gaze, a trace of guilt in his eyes. She paid it no mind and continued to

in with excitement. "He's back, he's back!

stood, Vivienne at his side to greet

and woman stepped from

eyes brightened. Flynn was even more handsome in person, his tan skin exuding

from beside her, Vivienne pulled