The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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.

her own mother,

whom he had met

B’s expression, Vivienne knew he

of exasperation,

rubbed her head, showing empathy,

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

his jaw, “That’s quite enough,

together as she swiftly launched a silver needle from

B’s control over his legs vanished, and with a thud, he knelt helplessly on

not interrupt. It displeases me,” Vivienne’s eyes glinted with a cold edge, adding a chilling beauty to

B gripped his gun tighter but

whether it was Vivienne, Percival, or even Leopold, Mr. B stood no chance of

could easily dodge a bullet. And even if hit by chance, Mr. B was aware that he would be the one to suffer

rendered useless, escape was out of the question. He needed to wait for the right moment to

didn’t actually think you’d get the chance to

suddenly realizing his

and understood that he had been drugged and was

with a message from Thomas: [Subject is secure, no poison detected,

pocketed his phone, “Leopold, take

the defenseless Mr. B, handcuffing him with the restraints he had learned to

” My Vivienne has a knack for phrenology. No matter how you change your appearance, you can’t

froze upon

It all made sense.

prided himself on his flawless disguise, yet Vivienne had seen right through

Emerald Monastery, a disciple of the renowned Finnian, whose greatest skill was reading

she ever offered such services. So how did she

at Vivienne, forcing a smile, “You’ve played along with my

finger, “No matter how skilled you are, you can’t imitate the

phrenology exceeded even her master’s. Finnian often remarked she was

was forbidden from reading fortunes,

had heeded her master’s warning and refrained

Vivienne possessed the ability to read bone structure, a skill unrelated to mystic arts and solely based on