The Million-Dollar Heart

Mara finally came to, her return to consciousness accompanied by the cold, hard reality of the floor beneath her and an awkward blush creeping across her cheeks.

Vivienne, having just finished checking Karen's pupils for any irregularities, heard Mara stir and casually tossed her a smartphone.

"Didn't forget our chat from last night, did you?"

Mara pushed herself upright, a thread of hope in her voice. "So, if I help you out, we're square?"

Vivienne chuckled while adjusting Karen's blanket, her gaze still fixed on Mara. "You should get it straight, Mara. You're helping yourself."

Mara paused, the warning in Vivienne's words chilling her to the bone. She dropped to her knees, desperation quivering in her voice. "Vivienne, please, I'm begging you. Save my brother. I'll do anything, work day and night, anything at all. I had no choice!"

Vivienne perched herself on the edge of Karen's bed, her eyes dancing with amusement at Mara's plea. "And what exactly can you offer me in terms of service?"

Mara bit her lip, words failing her.

Compared to Vivienne, she felt utterly powerless.

Watching Mara's flustered attempts at negotiation, Vivienne lost interest in prolonging the conversation. "Keep your nose clean, follow my instructions, and once your treatment is done, I'll see to it that you keep your life."

Mara's tears, unbidden, streamed down her face. "My brother's stuck in some godforsaken asylum in M State, Vivienne. It's a loony bin! For the love of all that's holy, he never did you wrong. Please, get him out. He's all the family I've got left in this world!"

Vivienne nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all.

What did that have to do with her?

Was she expected to forgive and go out of her way to rescue Huxley just because he'd never crossed her?

Ridiculous.

Disinterested, Vivienne's voice turned icy. "Do as I say, or not even you will make it out alive."

words, she stood and

to the floor, a portrait

betrayed her, Huxley's fate was sealed. Yet, failing

caught between a

drama unfold with a detached curiosity, couldn't fathom Mara's

such dire straits,

Willa couldn't understand it.

wouldn't hesitate. Even if it meant choosing between her own life and Sasha Perez's, she would save

boss unreachable, and having been kicked out

grovel. She wouldn't be cast aside after all she had

moment, her

snatched it up, "Boss, is

"It's Mara."

"What do you

"I... I killed someone."

a killer? If you had the guts,

Mara insisted. "I'm serious! It was Karen, Vivienne's mother. Boss made me do it. What now? I've pinned it on Aaron,

Vivienne catches me, you're the

Mara hung

called her contact immediately, "Boss, I shouldn't disturb you, but Mara's killed Vivienne's mother,

deep voice

nearly gasped aloud. She

why was

are you? Where's

worry about who I am, Gillian. Your mission

process what had just happened,

stumbled back as the phone's remnants scattered on

phone was beyond repair; its

sweat