The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In a clandestine surveillance room somewhere.

Calista’s wrists were bound by handcuffs, surrounded by stark white walls that seamlessly blended with the door. A shiver ran down her spine, and fear pounded in her heart.

She had been knocked unconscious by Percival and when she came to, she found herself trapped in this sterile cell, too terrified to resist.

Had her research on the viruses been discovered? Would that mean the death penalty?

No, it couldn’t be!

Lost in thought, Calista was jolted back to reality by the sound of the door unlocking. Her eyes widened in alarm as she watched the door intently.

Soon after, a figure in a black trench coat entered the room. It was Mr. B, who tossed a key toward her without a word.

It was the key to her cuffs.

“Mr. B, what’s going on? Where am I? Do I still have to return to the lab?”

Before she could get her bearings, Calista was met with a slap that sent her tumbling to the floor.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as the blow nearly knocked her out.

“Fool, who gave you permission to collaborate with Fiona behind our backs?” Mr. B’s voice was harsh and undisguised. There was no need for pretense anymore; Calista’s identity had been exposed, and from now on, she could only operate under strict surveillance.

Calista was stunned. Mr. B was a woman?

Mr. B removed her hat, revealing Astrid’s familiar face, the disguise still in place, “Tell me, where is Boar Poison?”

Calista, regaining her senses, was shocked to see Mr. B’s true appearance.

“You’re Vivienne’s sister!”

Mr. B merely rolled her eyes, “Answer my question.”

don’t know. Fiona didn’t give me Boar Poison. She said she’d hand it over at the critical moment for me to use on Vivienne.

ground her molars

to seize Boar Poison,

for GTO had always depended

suspecting she had an organization backing her, one with the capability to acquire

especially since Karen’s research had been largely destroyed and couldn’t

had resurfaced,

on the floor, Mr. B reached out a

placing her hand in Mr.

fierce yank, Calista felt as though her arm might rip from its socket. The next instant, Mr. B had her

before her inspired

If you can’t produce the

her. She was playing with fire, one false step from

I’ll develop it, I’ll definitely get

up from below, and with a few dripping sounds, Mr. B disgustedly

taken to your new lab,

wiping her hands disdainfully, Mr. B turned and

of regret. Her remorse was beyond words. If only she had known Vivienne was Specter Healer, she never would have crossed her. Now, she

…

At TCL Labs.

had brought Vivienne

assistant Holden approached, “The director’s not

nodded, “Carry on with your

at the hat-wearing woman behind Percival, his heart

dare to look twice

Holden averted

office door, which now

nowhere, he slid it through the reader and

full

pocketed the card, “It’s a necessary skill when you’re out in

mused about the so-called essential skills at Vanguard Agency, which apparently included