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 was

Interesting.

Vanguard Agency that swore to protect the nation

Soren paused before addressing

understand why they were after

was a Vanguard operative, duty-bound to

frosty glare. "Rejoin

twitched, a silent message to Anna, "You've been hanging out with Leopold too

few days, the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold's

order you as Squad Leader to fall back into

Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all

then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, "Vivienne Hawthorn, You're under arrest. Lay down your

the mastermind behind CK, known as White

nearly laughed out loud, "What

figure emerged from behind the Vanguard agents. He limped,

in person, but his face had

mother's old

feet before her and smiled, "You

smile, "But

nodded. "Fair point. Let's talk about the

presented a written

in command. Three days ago, she confessed to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and the illicit funds you transferred using Commander

nodded. "Is there

from the club where you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted to

again. "You're

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

a laugh. "So, are you planning to monitor these people or

but he did not

as good as

"Just so you know, you probably

pills were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons,

bind because of my own Life-saving pill. But since you've