The Million-Dollar Heart

Daphne's eyes flashed with a hint of agony. "Those people were hell-bent on hunting me down. For Anna's safety, I had no choice but to take a death-faking pill to fool them."

Sasha pursed her lips and sighed, "Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you contact us? Even the Vanguard Agency couldn't track you down."

"We all thought you were... gone," Sasha exhaled, struggling to accept the news back then.

Daphne candidly replied, "My memory has been in and out over the years. Sometimes I remember clearly, other times I forget everything. But I've never stopped trying to find news about you and the team. If only I had known how... profound the effects of that drug would be."

"Ouch!" Daphne clutched her head in pain before burying her face in the pillow, a look of agony on her face.

"Mom, is it the headache again?"

"Stop thinking about it."

Sasha, witnessing Daphne's sudden pain, couldn't tell if it was real or an act.

Anna explained, "Karen, this is the aftereffect of the death-faking pill my mom took years ago. Recalling the past triggers her headaches, leaving her unable to think of anything..."

As they parted, Daphne handed Sasha a medallion, insisting she take it.

Sasha examined the tarnished object before pocketing it with a nod.

Anna requested time off from Vivienne, "Vivienne, I won't be able to stick by you these next few days. The lab, too."

Understanding her friend's predicament, Vivienne reassured her with a pat on the shoulder, "Don't worry. The artifacts from the Wright family have been delivered to the lab. With Brody there, everything will be fine." Anna felt slightly relieved and nodded.

Leopold by

the hallway, Sasha held the medallion, her expression tense. "This was the first honor Amaya won at the

raised an eyebrow, "Is it

part of their lives for too long to

began to doubt, "Is that really

to Daphne's bedside, making sure she was comfortable, then sat down, clearly not

bed, tried to persuade her, "Sweetie, my injuries are minor. You shouldn't neglect your work on my account. The nurses are here; you

of the question, Mom. I wouldn't trust anyone else

repeat itself. She was determined

Vivienne. I won't be going

given up on

but I'll return to the lab when I'm free. After all, that's where I continue to learn." Handing a sliced

a bite of the apple, then casually mentioned, "I heard Vivienne mentioning something new at

finished peeling the apple but remembered the

on the table as she softly explained, "It's all work-related. You

feigned offense, "Is it that I wouldn't understand, or are you underestimating your mother? After

clarify, "Mom, it's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just that even I'm not

Anna seemed intrigued, her gaze fixed on Anna,

assassinate us yesterday. But when the box was

narrowed her

QUMS

as if remembering

"heard rumors on my journey to find you, suggesting Vivienne possesses something incredibly valuable. Apparently there's

whoever can find it."

anyone could pose a real threat to Vivienne,