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

You two are mother and daughter! No wonder I couldn't just

a mission once, and with a bit of guidance, he was able to unlock some pretty deep medical mysteries. It's just a shame

knack for things that align

back, enjoying the show, with no intention

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

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

having no real intention of harming

his shoulder. "No wonder this lab looked so familiar. I couldn't beat you because you're mother

running into Karen here, Brody would never have remembered that before he became 'Brody,' he

the name of Evelyn. She was busy with her own lab

had given him a few

this gifted young man would one day steal her lab

Brody never imagined that, years later, he would

the task I gave you coming along?"

"Why don't you ask your mom? Wasn't this what she was researching

interest in Vivienne's potion stemmed from his experience in Karen's lab, and back then, he lacked the skills to

another lab, one Brody was responsible for

to keep his

of its own. It keeps changing direction with every bit of progress we make. It's devouring the old cells and spawning new ones,

the potion cultures,

it seemed that those effects were merely a prelude to cellular

was like

frowned. "This thing keeps giving me surprises

healing properties and found

virus is GTO researching that

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

nature, saving or taking lives at the

diluted, could become life-saving

pinch of the wrong substance, could turn