The Million-Dollar Heart

Mark knew his fate was sealed. Betraying the Nine Mystics Society and harming his brethren had left him no escape.

His only option now was to divulge what he knew about GTO to save his own skin.

"Young Master, my latest orders were to shift our operations to Sea City and locate someone named Imogen to await further instructions. That's all I was told, Young Master. Please, can you spare my life?" Vivienne's eyes narrowed.

Imogen had fled to Sea City, the turf of the Perez family.

Mark continued to plead as a tear traced his cheek.

Vivienne brushed off the man's insincere tears and pressed, "Once in Sea City, how will you find Imogen?"

"I don't know, but our base there is at a virus research facility. I haven't been given details."

Seizing a thread of hope, Mark blurted out, "Young Master, I'll make amends. I'll go to Sea City, uncover the research facility, and deliver this woman, Imogen, to you. I swear I'll complete the mission."

His voice was urgent, punctuated by fits of coughing that suddenly brought forth blood. His heart felt pierced with a thousand needles, suffocating him with pain.

Vivienne stood, dusted off her jacket, and said indifferently, "I gave Flynn a poison that's tearing him apart from the inside. Yours is a hundred times stronger. You'll spend every moment in agony." Mark collapsed, his face ashen.

No one knew better than him the potency of the Young Master's poisons.

His pleas were in vain.

Just as he thought this was the harshest punishment, Vivienne spoke slowly, "You think this is enough?"

Mark shuddered.

Was there something worse waiting for him?

always said, from the day you joined the Nine Mystics Society, death would never be the best outcome. For a traitor... even a death wish

the door,

and walked out, leaving behind a chilling command, "Throw him into

pleas escalated to a fevered pitch, "Young Master, I beg you. I'll never betray you again. Please, you can kill me, but don't send me to the hound

Draven was stunned

punish traitors. For years,

cross her. She had hoped she would never

clear how much Mark's betrayal

sympathy. A simple betrayal might have ended with poison, but Mark had joined GTO, the organization that had killed Vivienne's mother, and she was relentless in her quest for vengeance against

dealt with many from GTO, but none suffered as Mark

had previously dealt with were not directly involved in her mother's death. They were not GTO's boss, and she never had any personal grudge against them. Thus, if they did not cross her, she might grant them

Mark. Plus, she was attached to all Nine Mystics

why Vivienne would throw Mark into the hound pit. If he were betrayed

poisonous bloom. "I'm a law-abiding citizen. Why would I kill? Don't you worry, you won't die. You'll be tended to every day, year after year unless I die. That's when your relief may

He sat,

having overheard everything. Mark's betrayal

course, would

had always been absent, and that only

you are the head of the Miller family.

upon his death, everything would

truly dead was irrelevant. What

whether he could obtain complete control of the Miller family still

won't disappoint you. I promise, the Miller family

filled with a young man's