The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne lifted her hand with a delicate motion, her fingertips brushing against Vance's.

The contact sent a jolt of pain through Vance's finger, causing him to slump back onto the couch, but his eyes remained locked on Vivienne with intensity. "Sure, Lark and Ashen Pigeon and I didn't see eye to eye, but our beef was strictly professional. I have no reason to off her, so show some respect, will ya?"

His agitation caught Vivienne off guard. She had obviously struck a nerve.

Still cradling his wrist, Vance stared at her, "Neither you nor Micah have any ground to suspect me. I admit I've got a grudge against the ancient warrior lineages, and I use my job to dig around. But as an agen of Vanguard Agency, from field operative to the director I am today, I've honored every mission and every badge I've ever worn on my uniform!

Look, Vivienne, Percival, you can accuse me of neglect, of not caring about the future and safety of my agents, but you can never question my commitment to Vanguard Agency!"

In Percival's eyes, Vance was far from a model director. In fact, he did not even deserve the title.

Sacrificing his own people for personal gain, landing them in military prison while acting like nothing happened, seeing them meet their ends without lifting a finger... Such a man did not inspire Percival's respect.

But he could not deny the truth in Vance's words.

The room fell silent for a few minutes, with no one speaking.

After some time, Vance's emotions seemed to stabilize. "My mission for the Frostfire Intelligence Agency still stands. Next time you swing by, I expect news about your mentor."

It was a clear dismissal, and his tone was less than friendly.

Vivienne looked back at Vance.

He seemed to be shackled by his obsessions.

An obsession with the ancient warrior lineages, with the Sheldon family.

She had seen the medical records of Vance's parents before they died, which had nothing to do with some karmic cycle.

different, laced with unknown toxins and substances, lying dormant in the body before finally manifesting and causing

the Edwards Group affair. Perhaps the

returned to the Mystic Vein, and they were frequently taken to court over sick or dead

Edwards Group secured hefty health insurance for their workers that

definitely problematic. However, Vance's parent's deaths were certainly not due to karma. The matter was only draped in a shroud of mystery because of the Sheldon family's

time we meet, I hope you've got more to spill about Rover. Otherwise, you can

was Vivienne's

enigma, always blurry in photos, leaving no trace in the entire Vanguard

not sensed him stepping in for Vance, Vivienne would have had nothing

at her, "What do you want to know about Rover? Vivienne, your mom's death was suicide. It's got nothing to do with anyone in

view. "Keep your ancient warrior lineage feud out of the agency. I'm not letting this slide, not

She did not resist, following

engine, the calm of the night surrounded them. "Vivienne, the Finnian situation... I

do you say that?" She

his phone. "Our mystery friend sent the

phone, and sure enough, it was

only cares about the ancient

frowned. "Last time, she warned me to watch out for Vance; now, suddenly, it's

more certain of who this mysterious person was, her anger towards her only grew. She had lied to her for years! And she had always been right there, beside her! Percival ruffled her hair. "She must

gazing out the window at the bustling streets, her

one familiar figure to confront, to

Why? Why all this?