The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 429

Astrid eyed the laboratory entrance before her, the very threshold of a top-secret national research facility she had once infiltrated with Vivienne.

A sly grin tugged at the corner of her mouth as she pressed the button on the remote.

A gust of wind swept by, yet nothing ensued.

Disbelief etched across Astrid’s features as she jabbed the button several more times, her expression darkening with each futile attempt.

Suddenly, she whipped out a gun, spinning around with a swift motion.

Vivienne, along with Percival and Leopold who was bemused, emerged from behind her.

Astrid showed no signs of panic; instead, a calm detachment washed over her.

“Figures, you’re not one to fall for tricks so easily,” Astrid declared, wielding the gun in one hand while discarding the useless remote with the other.

A flicker of regret crossed her gaze as she looked at Vivienne, “Had you joined us, our victory would’ve been assured by now.”

Vivienne’s eyes sparkled with amusement, her smile broad and radiant. “Your disguise is pathetic, Mr. B.”

Mr. B, now unmasked as the impostor, gave a nonchalant shrug, making no move to remove his mask, “When did you catch on?”

Vivienne pondered for a moment, “Around the time I stumbled upon Scott, perhaps?”

Vivienne then let out a derisive chuckle, “You were too naive.”

Mr. B’s eyebrows rose inquisitively, “Impossible. You’d never interacted with me when you blew Scott’s cover!”

A laugh escaped Vivienne, “Once wasn’t enough?”

Mr. B’s pupils constricted, still puzzled.

Before impersonating Astrid to get close to Vivienne, Mr. B had thoroughly researched his target. With the help of Alfred, the bumbling fool, Mr. B knew every minute detail of Astrid’s life – from her catchphrases to her subtlest expressions and mannerisms.

mother,

Vivienne, whom he had met only once, possibly see through

B’s expression, Vivienne knew he still

touch of exasperation, “Mr. Wolf, I

head, showing

seriousness, “Can we stay on task, please? This is a mission, not a time for public displays

jaw, “That’s

together as she swiftly launched a silver needle from

with

Vivienne’s eyes glinted with a cold edge, adding a chilling

his gun tighter but knew better than to

was Vivienne, Percival, or even Leopold, Mr.

easily dodge a bullet. And even if hit by chance, Mr. B was aware that he

escape was out of the question. He needed to wait for the right

“Mr. B, you didn’t actually think you’d

paused, suddenly realizing

looked at Vivienne’s smug face and understood that he

a message from Thomas: [Subject is secure, no

phone, “Leopold,

stepped forward and subdued the defenseless Mr. B, handcuffing him with the restraints he had learned to carry at all times since

a knack for phrenology. No matter how you change your appearance, you

B froze upon hearing Leopold’s

It all made sense.

had prided himself on his flawless disguise, yet Vivienne had

the Emerald Monastery, a disciple of the renowned Finnian, whose

Vivienne did not practice phrenology, nor had she ever offered such services. So how did she discern Mr. B’s true

smile, “You’ve played along with my charade for

you can’t imitate the

her master’s. Finnian

was forbidden from reading fortunes, lest she risk

warning and

ability to read bone structure, a skill unrelated to mystic

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