The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Calista could imagine the frosty reception she would receive from the Ellington family, but she never expected to be met with such outright disdain.

Of course, it was all because of Vivienne!

“Grandpa, please keep it. Don’t disregard Calista’s thoughtful gesture,” Fiona chimed in, playing peacemaker, and managed to diffuse some of the awkwardness.

Cecilia scoffed disdainfully, eyeing Calista with contempt. “Calista, my father already has a Specter Healer’s bracelet, a gift from our dear Vivienne. Your little present is redundant at the moment.”

Calista’s heart skipped a beat.

Specter Healer!

How did Vivienne come to possess something from the elusive Specter Healer?

The entire medical community knew of Specter Healer’s enigmatic reputation, never leaving a trace. How could they have possibly left something personal behind?

Where did Vivienne acquire it?

What infuriated Calista even more was the fact that Vivienne dared to give away something as coveted as a Specter Healer artifact!

Those were treasures she could only dream of obtaining!

As Calista grappled with shock, Cecilia’s smirk widened.

“Come on, Vivienne, let’s go have some fun,” Cecilia said, pulling her away.

Vivienne did not resist, allowing Cecilia to lead her off, only sparing Fiona a fleeting glance as she passed.

Fiona suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, unsettled by the penetrating gaze of Vivienne’s eyes. She felt she had been seen through for some inexplicable reason.

It was not until Vivienne and Cecilia had ascended the staircase that Fiona’s shiver subsided.

She could not shake the feeling that she had seen those eyes somewhere before.

Percival stood up, briefly glancing at the herbs in Calista’s hands.

Calista was about to greet Percival when he abruptly spoke, “Aurelia, make sure to properly inspect anything brought into

had served the Ellingtons for over forty

knew precisely how to read the

of their disdain for Calista, and Aurelia was more

took the herbs from

with embarrassment, managed a strained smile. “Of course, Aurelia. Thank

to her word, Aurelia called the family doctor before Calista

fumed silently, forced

in the spectacle,

tightened as she watched his

was all because of

not been for Vivienne, she would not

doctor confirmed the herbs were harmless, Aurelia

snub, Fiona sat next to Calista and placed the box of herbs

is a token of Calista’s respect for your birthday. You can’t just turn it away, right?

working at the company, you can’t just loaf around and bring troublemakers around. I’m tired. It’s time

the company, but as Richard’s granddaughter, he showed

as for Calista, Richard had no such

all, Calista was visiting under her friend’s name, yet he refused to show a shred

had Vivienne cast upon the Ellington family to have them so entirely under

them, Fiona and Calista had no choice

the entrance of the Ellington Mansion, Fiona saw Calista

apologizing, “Fiona, I’m sorry for the trouble

clenched the box tightly, yet her face remained

not your fault. If only we could have come sooner,” Fiona said, her head

Mr. Ellington. It’s all that woman’s fault. If not for her, Richard would have

placed on Vivienne’s shoulders, as if by mutual unspoken

…

the secretive Rivenwood research

by Astrid

we are.” Astrid removed the blindfold, “Welcome to our

took in her surroundings: masked faces, white lab

told you about. The perfume formula