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.

her phone and texted Percival, [How’s it

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

see Vivienne’s cunning expression from those words – like

…

house of the Ellington family’s second

doctor said you can’t get out of bed

their imagination. A

not for the timely hospital

to the couch. “I’m

was in agony.

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

isn’t any better. No matter what, Fiona

you, I should have joined the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight.

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

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

that she was out, they had lost a significant source

sat in her room, ignoring her parents’ and Jeffrey’s complaints below. She put on

most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings that weighed on her

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

was her livelihood, her

to deliver as promised, it

dialed an unknown number on her

still in our hands, being moved

eye. I’ll find a way to

rubbed her fingertips,

unfamiliar

she answered, “Who’s

replied, “Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

close, but Fiona had heard of Calista

cheap daughter

also become reclusive. Why

do for you?” Fiona asked,

through. “Got

“Sure, see you soon.”

…