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.

and texted Percival, [How’s

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

could almost see Vivienne’s cunning expression from those words

…

of the Ellington

can’t get out of bed yet,” Heloise said, her heart aching

was beyond their imagination. A mere toss had broken

timely hospital visit, he

to the couch. “I’m going stir-crazy lying in

useless; he was in agony. It was better to

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

the mention, Heloise bristled with anger. “What else? It was that wench Vivienne’s doing. Percival isn’t any better. No matter

told you, I should have joined the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now look what’s happened. What are we supposed to do now? Wait

day? Think you can get

second branch, with half their savings coming from her commissions at

that she was out, they had lost a

below. She put on headphones, locked

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

also needed the Ellington Group’s resources and connections,

was her livelihood,

If she failed to deliver as promised, it could cost her

on her

still in our hands, being moved as

close eye. I’ll find

the call, Fiona rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool face

an unfamiliar

she answered, “Who’s

replied, “Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

not close, but Fiona had heard

once-proclaimed prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the

become

asked,

came through.

“Sure, see you soon.”

…