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

B ground her

moment to seize Boar

for GTO had always

alone, never suspecting she had an

Poison, especially since Karen’s research had

had resurfaced, GTO

floor, Mr. B

placing her hand in Mr.

might rip from its socket. The next instant, Mr.

The gentle face before her inspired

Calista’s throat, “I value your medical expertise. If you can’t produce the Boar

She was playing with fire, one

it, I’ll definitely

wafted up from below, and with a few

no longer an option for you. You’ll be taken to your new lab, remember, you only

wiping her hands disdainfully, Mr. B

remorse was beyond words. If only she had known Vivienne was Specter Healer, she never would have crossed her. Now, she couldn’t even return to the TCL

…

At TCL Labs.

had brought Vivienne

lab assistant Holden approached, “The director’s not

nodded, “Carry on with

more, casting a sidelong glance at the hat-wearing woman behind

beautiful woman! But who would dare to look twice at Mr.

Holden averted his

door, which

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

you’re full of

necessary skill when

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