The Million-Dollar Heart

In an instant, Brody's mind raced with countless ways to make a break for it, his feet itching to bolt.

Unfortunately for him, in Vivienne's grasp, there was no chance of escape.

"Blowing up my lab now, huh? Living a little too comfortably these days, aren't we?" Vivienne said, her grip firm on Brody's shoulder, patting his head like he was a naughty puppy.

Brody glared at Vivienne and retorted, "Cut me some slack, Specter Healer! I was just experimenting!"

"You've got some nerve!" Vivienne raised her hand, poised to strike again.

A real man knows when to fold. Brody, raising his hands to his ears, shouted, "Okay, okay, I was wrong!"

Only then did Vivienne relax her stance.

On the sidelines, Karen chuckled. "You must be Brody, right?"

Hearing her, Brody shot Karen an impatient look, "Yes, and who might you be? Have we met..."

He took a closer look at Karen and realized something about her face seemed familiar. Suddenly, his eyes widened in recognition. "It's you! You're Evelyn!"

Vivienne was taken aback, not expecting Brody to know her mother.

Karen just smiled at Brody, her gaze filled with an enigmatic meaning as she stepped forward and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Still as impolite as ever, huh? Don't you know how to greet your master properly?"

As she finished her words, a sharp pain shot through Brody's shoulder, causing him to buckle under her grip.

Vivienne was even more surprised.

Since when had her mother become Brody's master?

But Brody was wise enough to know when to give in. He wailed, "Master, I'm sorry! I was wrong!"

"You're sorry? Stealing my research papers, running off with lab secrets, do you think a simple apology is enough?" Karen's gaze was fierce, her grip tightening.

Brody's body was nearly doubled over, powerless to resist, like a lamb in the grip of a lioness.

your disciple?" Vivienne asked with a hint

daughter! No wonder I couldn't just beat

"The boy's got talent. Met him on a mission once, and with a bit of guidance, he was able to unlock some pretty deep medical mysteries. It's just a shame his mind's always on the

knack for things that align with my thinking, thanks

back, enjoying the show, with no intention of

expression, "Vivienne, I've got something to tell you. Can you-can

let him go. I've got

her grip, having no real intention of

wonder this lab looked so familiar. I couldn't

that before he

name of Evelyn. She was busy with her own lab while leading

Brody's talent, she had

did she know this gifted young man would one day steal her lab secrets and

imagined that, years later, he would

I gave you coming along?"

breath. "Why don't you ask your mom? Wasn't this what

experience in Karen's lab, and back then,

trio moved into another lab, one Brody was responsible for

enough to keep his

direction was indeed effective, but now it seems this thing has a mind of its own. It keeps changing direction with every bit

and Karen crouched before the potion cultures, engrossed in

thought it only had healing effects, but now it seemed that those effects

was like

keeps giving me surprises every

properties and found them odd. But now, this reaction was

researching that could cause such

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

remedy in the world has a dual nature, saving or taking lives at the flick of an intention

poisons, adequately diluted, could

medicines, with just a pinch of the wrong substance, could turn into deadly