The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Astrid fidgeted nervously beside Vivienne, apparently still wracked with guilt over the previous day’s events.

Vivienne, unfazed, glanced at Astrid with eyes as soft as a strawberry cheesecake and stood up.

Astrid halted her with a call, “Vivienne.”

Vivienne’s lips curved into a smile, her bright eyes flashing with disinterest. “What is it?”

Astrid rose and approached her, lifting her shirt.

On her slender waist was a hideous black scar.

A knife wound, poisoned.

Astrid clenched her fist. “I got this on a mission when I fell into the enemy’s trap. Now, I still suffer from the pain, especially when it rains, my whole body aches.

Vivienne, I’m not trying to gain your sympathy. I just want to tell you that we’ve sacrificed our lives to ensure that our organization can develop a defense against the biochemical weapons of rival nations.

So, on behalf of the organization and our country, I’m inviting you to join our fight!”

Vivienne’s gaze fell on the scar on Astrid’s waist.

It was clearly real.

She grasped Astrid’s wrist and felt for her pulse.

The poison had been lurking in her body for years; she, indeed, had suffered greatly.

Vivienne casually took out a life-saving pill and popped it into Astrid’s mouth. “This poison isn’t hard to cure. Just come to me once a day.”

After a pause, she added, “I’m quite interested in what you’ve said. I’ll give it a try.”

Astrid froze, surprised. “You mean you agree?”

Vivienne nodded slightly. “Yeah, but I’m out if your experiments don’t meet my standards.”

“Great. You’ll find our experiments fascinating,” Astrid said with a smile. “I’ll notify the organization and see when they can take you to the lab.”

With that, Astrid went into her room.

Looking at her door, Vivienne let a sly smile creep onto her face.

out her phone and texted Percival, [How’s

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

could almost see Vivienne’s cunning expression from those words – like a

…

the

out of bed yet,” Heloise said, her

A mere toss had

timely hospital visit,

couch. “I’m going stir-crazy lying in

in agony. It was better to move a

me. What

bristled with anger. “What else? It was that wench Vivienne’s doing. Percival isn’t any better. No matter what, Fiona was good to him. How could he

you, I should have joined the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now look what’s happened. What are we

you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come

with half their savings coming from her commissions at

had lost a significant source

parents’ and Jeffrey’s complaints below. She put on

was not her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings that weighed on

art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group’s resources and connections, even using

her livelihood, her

to deliver as promised, it could cost

an unknown number on

our hands, being moved as you

Keep a close eye. I’ll find a way to get her

rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool face

unfamiliar

she

replied,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

Fiona had

of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former Brooks

Calista had also become reclusive. Why was

I do for you?” Fiona asked, her voice smooth, the

came through. “Got time for a

“Sure, see you soon.”

…