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.”

ask further, “I… I 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. Today, I didn’t

B ground her

thought this might be the moment to seize

goods for GTO had always depended on

was working alone, never suspecting she had an organization backing

been unable to replicate Boar Poison, especially since Karen’s research had been largely destroyed and

resurfaced, GTO was determined to

at Calista on the floor, Mr. B reached

Calista hesitated before placing her

its socket. The next instant, Mr. B had her by the

gentle face before

your medical expertise. If you can’t produce the Boar Poison within a

a chill run through her. She was playing with fire,

it, I’ll definitely get

a few dripping sounds, Mr. B disgustedly threw

taken to your new lab, remember, you only

her hands disdainfully,

crumpled in a puddle of foul liquid, shedding tears of regret. Her remorse was beyond words. If only she had known Vivienne was Specter Healer, she never would have crossed

…

At TCL Labs.

had brought

Holden approached, “The director’s not here, and we’re

nodded, “Carry on with your

the hat-wearing woman behind Percival, his heart skipping a

a beautiful woman! But who would dare to

better, Holden averted

door, which

out a magnetic card from nowhere, he slid it through the reader and with a beep, the door

Wolf, you’re full of surprises,”

a necessary skill when

skills at