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.

Percival and Leopold by Vivienne's side, she

expression tense. "This was the first honor Amaya won at the Vanguard Agency, a symbol of her

an eyebrow, "Is

nodded. Such an item had been part of their lives for too long

doubt, "Is

Anna returned to Daphne's bedside, making sure she was comfortable, then sat down, clearly

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

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

mind; she wouldn't let history repeat itself. She was determined to ensure her mother's

spoken to Vivienne. I won't be going to the

wryly, "I thought you had given up

return to the lab when I'm free. After all, that's where I continue to learn." Handing a sliced piece to Daphne, Anna continued,

"I heard Vivienne mentioning something new

the doctor's advice to

table as she softly explained, "It's all

understand, or are you underestimating your mother? After all, you've

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

Anna seemed intrigued, her gaze fixed on Anna,

shared, "Vivienne speculated it might be related to the people who tried to assassinate us yesterday. But when the box was retrieved, it was sealed. Vivienne probably had someone open

narrowed her

QUMS

as if

"heard rumors on my journey to find you, suggesting Vivienne possesses something incredibly

whoever can find it."

but doubted anyone could pose a real threat to Vivienne,