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.

pulled out her phone and

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

Vivienne’s cunning expression from

…

of the

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

their imagination. A mere toss had broken

hospital visit, he might

to the couch. “I’m going

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

her off impatiently. “Never mind me.

wench Vivienne’s doing. Percival isn’t any better. No matter what, Fiona was good

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

equally furious, shouting upstairs to Fiona’s room, “Fiona, what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out how to ask your grandpa to reinstate

was the mainstay of the Ellington family’s second branch, with half

they had lost a significant

her room, ignoring her parents’ and Jeffrey’s complaints below. She

not her most pressing concern. It was

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

was her

If she failed to deliver as promised, it could cost

number on her phone.

hands,

Keep a close eye. I’ll find

her fingertips, her usually

an unfamiliar number

she answered,

woman’s voice replied, “Ms.,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

not close, but Fiona had heard of Calista in their

traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of

also become reclusive. Why was

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

voice came through. “Got time

“Sure, see you soon.”

…