The Million-Dollar Heart

At the Grimshaw family's mansion.

Ever since Samantha was whisked away by that enigmatic man, she had plunged into unconsciousness.

It wasn't until nightfall that she began to stir, finally coming to.

Waking up, she was immediately hit by an all-over ache, as if she had been dismantled and poorly reassembled. Luckily, the damaged pathways within her had been expertly reconnected. As she mulled over this, the door creaked open, and a man strolled in.

Upon seeing him, Samantha flashed a smile, sultry as a siren's call. She rose to her feet and sidled up to him, her voice a soft drip of honey. "I knew you'd come for me." The man cast her a nonchalant glance, his voice sharp as ice. "Foolish!"

"I was careless this time. I didn't expect Vivienne to be so formidable. After all this time in hiding, she managed to find me." Samantha's voice was tinged with frustration.

That villa had cost her a pretty penny, fortified with barriers so sophisticated that even a master hacker might fail to pinpoint her sanctuary.

But she had overlooked one thing: Vivienne was no ordinary hacker. She was the Shadow Wolf!

A legend in the hacking world.

And her mother, Karen, was even more skilled than she.

The duo was not only evil but seemed to be at cosmic odds with Samantha herself.

The man watched her, expressionless, silent as stone.

Sensing his displeasure, Samantha purred, "With your skills, they won't find you."

A flicker of something passed through the man's eyes. He spoke, his voice deep and resonant, "When will you have what I want ready?"

"It will take time!"

His face darkened immediately.

quickly explained, "I've just been rescued by you. Vivienne and Percival are scouring the city for me. I can't expose myself yet. Arrange a place for me to stay, and once things cool down, I'll set up a

regard her in cold

the research direction. I'm planning an upgraded version of ST-1 with a few more potent ingredients. It shouldn't be

such direction. But she had to say it. This man was nothing like Francis, so easy to

Also, he was a

But for her, immortality was about forever ensnaring men with her beauty. Apart from

man but never bore a child to any, including

"Make sure it's so. I have no use

tracing lightly along his jawline, her voice a seductive spell, "Do you find

lace nightgown he had chosen for her. The neckline plunged daringly, hinting at the

last, he reacted. He gripped Samantha's head, his kiss fierce. She winced, not a touch of Francis' gentleness. But...

the bed, his body following in a swift motion. A tempest raged within the

hours later, it

and your skills... they improve, little

long as you're pleased. In time,

to defy age as well. Thankfully, though ST-1's

Yet, she was not

Stay put, and don't show your face at the Grimshaw

nodded, "I only

word, he turned and

retreat, lips curling. Such a carnivore, devouring the 'meal' and then

At Rivenwood

visited Karen, who still hadn't awakened. Willa was there, tirelessly tending to her every

Vivienne's brows