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.

Soren's face that he had

Interesting.

Vanguard Agency that swore to protect

Soren paused before addressing Anna, "Anna,

understand why they were after Vivienne. But she was

a Vanguard operative,

shot him a frosty glare.

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

the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold's brash

order you as Squad Leader to fall back into

orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all

argue further, just sighed heavily. He glanced at 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 her head

"Evidence suggests you're the mastermind behind

out

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

the approaching figure. She had never met him in person, but his face had been etched into her

mother's old

about 700 feet before her and smiled, "You

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

nodded. "Fair point. Let's talk about

presented a

confessed to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and the illicit

nodded. "Is

you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to

nodded again.

the film studio down at Eastlake Bay, all properties

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

eyes flickered, but he did

was as

circle of agents. "Just

Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?"

own Life-saving pill. But since you've partaken, remember to pay up.