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?

her pockets, looked down upon him. "I've 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 is a

door,

thumb for a print, and walked out, leaving behind a

betray you again. Please, you can kill me, but don't send me to the hound

stunned

dogs used to punish traitors. For years, no human had

cross her.

how much Mark's

GTO, the organization that had killed Vivienne's mother, and she was relentless in her quest

had dealt with many from GTO, but none suffered as

Vivienne 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

she was

Mark into the hound pit. If he were

the exit, hearing Mark's begging, she smiled, a 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

sat, mouth agape, unable to utter

was waiting, having overheard everything. Mark's

of course, would not forgive

father had always been absent, and that only seemed more accurate than

and said, "From today, you are the head of the Miller family. Everything is in

It stated that upon his death, everything would pass to

Mark was truly dead was irrelevant. What mattered was

obtain complete control of the

promise, the Miller

pledge was filled with a