The conversation had taken a turn, and it was clear that light-hearted banter was off the table.

"Vance, let's cut to the chase." Vivienne bit into a strawberry, savoring the burst of sweet, succulent flavor.

Vance sipped his wine, his gaze shifting between Vivienne and Percival.

"Vivienne, what do you know about Percival here?" He asked, nodding subtly towards Percival.

Vivienne tilted her head, eyeing Percival from head to toe. "Inside out," she declared.

Percival nearly choked on his Chardonnay.

What on earth was she talking about?

Were they not here for a formal discussion?

Vance was clearly taken aback, not expecting such a forthright answer from Vivienne.

Nor had Vivienne expected to say it, but seeing Percival's stern and ascetic demeanor, she just could not help herself.

Not everyone could understand the world of someone who cared about looks like she did.

Vance regained his composure and chuckled. "Well then, you must be familiar with his work. I was wondering if you might be interested in joining him professionally?" Percival coughed, glancing at Vance.

Was he suggesting Vivienne join the Vanguard Agency?

Vivienne speared another strawberry with her fork, the juice coating her taste buds in satisfaction.

"Director Vance, are you sure you can afford to hire me?"

Vance in an awkward spot. He flashed a forced smile. "Perhaps the Vanguard Agency

leaned back

up, his eyes piercing into Vivienne. "Specter Healer, an identity of great interest to my upper echelons. But I'm only interested in one thing." Vivienne did not

"Karen's daughter," Vance said.

Vivienne's eyes, and the casual indifference vanished,

mother and you were not, I believe, acquainted," Vivienne said calmly, her tone laced with an enigmatic

she knew, when her mother was with the

was naturally a loner, not one to seek out friendships, so the

Vivienne had never heard

her mother's favorite protégé, Percival, was someone Vivienne had barely met in her childhood, barely remembering his

now Vance, invoking her mother's name, wanted to recruit

Wishful thinking, indeed.

forward. "I was not exactly close with Lark. Quite

sincerity, piquing

the moment she joined the agency. She was stubborn, and so was I. We'd often butt heads, especially during a live exercise not long after she joined. Lark, Ashen Pigeon, and I were assigned to the same

have it. She insisted the hostage not be harmed in any way. We argued, but

mother telling her

Ashen Pigeon was Micah.

had said, was to teach Vivienne that

was crucial, between one's safety and the hostage's, the hostage must come first-that was the creed

understanding, Vivienne had confidently told her mother, "I'd make sure never to get hurt if I were rescuing someone. I'd have the

didn't see the point in Lark's actions. I thought that if you

I went undercover that I finally understood. Your mother's actions were what every operative should

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