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

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

expression from those words

…

the house of the Ellington family’s second

out of bed yet,” Heloise said, her heart aching for her

A mere toss had broken Jeffrey’s

not for the timely hospital visit, he might

“I’m going stir-crazy lying in

there was useless; he was in agony. It was better to

impatiently. “Never mind me. What about Fiona? Why was

It was that wench Vivienne’s doing. Percival isn’t any better. No

the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now

furious, shouting upstairs to Fiona’s room, “Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that

mainstay of the Ellington family’s second branch, with half their savings coming from her commissions

out, they had lost a significant source

parents’ and Jeffrey’s complaints below. She put on headphones, locked the door, and tuned them

ousted from the company was not her most pressing concern.

not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group’s resources and connections,

was her

she failed to deliver as promised,

number on her phone. “How’s it

hands, being

a close eye. I’ll find a way to get

fingertips, her usually

unfamiliar number

hesitating, she answered, “Who’s

voice replied, “Ms., I’m

Fiona paused.

Calista?

but Fiona had heard of

prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former Brooks

Scott’s arrest, Calista had also become reclusive.

do for you?” Fiona asked, her

through. “Got time

“Sure, see you soon.”

…