The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne glared at the scene for a solid thirty minutes before she finally averted her gaze.

At that moment, Calista had just danced with the reaper, her toes still dangling over the edge of the abyss.

"Easy there, I just tossed away her eyeball yesterday," Vivienne remarked dryly, casting a sidelong glance at Brody.

Brody nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

As they spoke, the poison coursing through Calista's veins was neutralized.

Vivienne did not linger. She motioned for Anna to follow, and they left the lab.

The moment she shut the door, Brody's voice boomed from inside, "Vivienne, you're a real asshole!"

Anna peered through the glass and saw Brody awkwardly propped up on hands and feet, his head stretched upward, resembling a turtle stuck on its back.

"Ms. Vivienne, you sure take revenge promptly," Anna said with a quiet chuckle, giving Vivienne the thumbs up.

Vivienne flicked her hair dismissively. She was not about to take Brody's scolding for nothing.

"Let's go," she said, looping an arm around Anna's neck as they exited the lab.

Just as they approached the car, both women tensed and swiftly rolled away to either side.

Two tranquilizer darts thudded into the seat where they had just stood.

Vivienne stood by the car's rear, her face a storm as she eyed the direction from which the darts had come.

Anna, positioned at the front, looked in the opposite direction with equal vigilance.

Suddenly, operatives wearing the uniforms of the Vanguard Agency special squad emerged from all around, led by none other than Soren.

Clad in tactical gear and goggles, Soren's surprise was evident even through his battle-hardened facade. "It's you?"

Vivienne's expression remained calm and unreadable.

that he had only discovered upon arrival that his target

Interesting.

swore to protect the nation

silent, Soren paused before

after Vivienne. But she was

Vanguard operative,

him a frosty

to Anna, "You've been

the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold's

Leader to

Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all costs, no matter who the

order on his display, then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, "Vivienne Hawthorn, You're under arrest. Lay down your arms and surrender." Vivienne tilted

lips. "Evidence suggests you're the mastermind behind CK, known

laughed out

a figure emerged from behind the Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning on a cane, his left leg

approaching figure. She had never met him in person, but

mother's old

about 700 feet before her and smiled, "You look so

lot," Vivienne replied with a hollow smile, "But let's skip the trip down memory lane and

point. Let's talk about the

presented a

more time outside prison,

"Is there

Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted to take out Carl. Only your fingerprint could authorize

nodded again. "You're

addressed Vivienne, "Next, we'll be seizing this lab, the film studio down at Eastlake Bay, all properties in your name, and we'll be monitoring all your close contacts, including Dorian's family, the Brooks family of

laugh. "So, are you planning to monitor these people or use them to threaten

but

as good as

agents. "Just so you know, you probably can't take us

were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?" Micah smirked slyly at Vivienne, the cunning in

thought I'd be in a bind because of my own Life-saving pill. But since you've partaken, remember to