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

[Came up empty. You?]

[Hook, line, and sinker.]

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

…

the Ellington

of bed yet,”

strength was beyond their imagination. A

hospital visit, he might have lost his

limped to the couch. “I’m

lying there was useless; he was in agony.

“Never mind me. What

doing. Percival isn’t any better. No matter what, Fiona was good to him. How could he just throw

of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now look what’s happened. What are we supposed to do now? Wait to starve?”

what are you doing hiding all day? Think you can get back into the

Ellington family’s second branch, with half their savings coming from

she was out, they had lost a significant

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

concern. It was her clandestine dealings that weighed on

the Ellington Group’s resources and connections,

was her livelihood, her

failed to deliver as promised, it could cost her her

unknown number on

still in our hands, being

I’ll find a way

fingertips, her usually cool face

unfamiliar number

hesitating, she answered,

replied,

Fiona paused.

Calista?

were not close, but Fiona had heard of

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

arrest, Calista had also become

for you?” Fiona asked, her voice smooth,

voice came through. “Got

“Sure, see you soon.”

…