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.

senses, Calista was about to greet Percival when he abruptly spoke, “Aurelia, make sure to properly inspect anything brought into the Ellington home from now on. We can’t

Aurelia, had served the Ellingtons for

to

for Calista, and Aurelia was more than willing to demonstrate

the herbs from Calista. “Please let

managed a strained smile. “Of course,

the family

silently, forced

uninterested in the spectacle, followed Vivienne

banister, Calista’s fists tightened

all

it not been for Vivienne, she would

herbs

sat next to Calista and placed the box of herbs in

birthday. You can’t just turn it away, right?

loaf around and bring troublemakers around.

been ousted from the company, but as Richard’s granddaughter, he

Richard had no such

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

Vivienne cast upon the Ellington family to

them, Fiona and Calista had no

the Ellington Mansion, Fiona saw

pressed her lips, apologizing, “Fiona, I’m sorry for

tightly, yet her face remained

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

It’s all that woman’s fault. If not for her, Richard would have never treated

was squarely placed on Vivienne’s shoulders, as if by mutual

…

within the secretive Rivenwood research

was led blindfolded by Astrid

removed the blindfold, “Welcome to our lab.

took in her surroundings: masked faces, white lab

gentlemen, this is the Vivienne I’ve told you about. The perfume formula that