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

in surprise, "Mom? You two are mother and daughter! No wonder I couldn't just beat you like that! I knew there

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.

wonder he seemed to have a knack for things that align

sat back, enjoying the show, with no intention of

pleaded with a gloomy expression, "Vivienne, I've got something to tell

spoke up leisurely. "Mom, let him

her grip, having no real intention

up, rubbing his shoulder. "No wonder this lab looked so familiar. I couldn't beat you because you're mother and daughter. It's like I'm cursed by you

that

Karen went under the name of Evelyn. She was busy with her own lab while leading a team at Vanguard

had given him a few

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

imagined that, years later, he

the task I gave you coming

your mom? Wasn't this

potion stemmed from his experience in Karen's lab, and back

lab, one Brody was responsible

to keep his

indeed effective, but now it seems this thing has a mind of its own. It keeps changing direction with every bit of progress we make. It's devouring the old cells and

and Karen crouched before the potion cultures, engrossed in the phenomenon Brody

healing effects, but now it seemed that those effects were merely a

was like a self-healing

frowned. "This thing keeps giving

and found them odd. But

kind of virus is GTO researching

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

has a dual nature, saving or taking lives at the flick

poisons, adequately diluted, could become

of