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.

did he become your disciple?" Vivienne asked with a

are mother and daughter! No wonder I

with laughter. "The boy's got talent. Met him on a mission once, and with a bit of guidance, he was able to unlock some pretty

a knack for things

back, enjoying the show, with no intention of intervening on

"Vivienne, I've got something to tell you. Can you-can your mom... my dear master let go of

leisurely. "Mom, let him go. I've got a

released her grip, having no

shoulder. "No wonder this lab looked so familiar. I couldn't beat you because you're mother and daughter. It's

would never have remembered that before he became 'Brody,' he had interned in a

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

by Brody's talent, she had given him a

she know this gifted young man would one day

never imagined that, years later, he would run

I gave you coming along?"

"Why don't you ask your

Karen's lab, and back then, he lacked the skills

moved into another lab, one Brody

keep his potion

this thing has a mind of its own. It keeps changing direction with every bit of progress

Karen crouched before the potion cultures, engrossed in the

healing effects, but now it seemed

was like a self-healing

thing keeps giving me surprises

the potion's healing properties and found them odd. But now, this

kind of virus is GTO researching

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

remedy in the world has a dual nature, saving or taking lives at

adequately diluted, could

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