The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne chuckled softly, “Just a small issue. Drink more water, and cut down on soft drinks. The toxins might be flushed out, but don’t overlook the aftereffects. Keep hydrating to wash away any remnants.”

“Thanks, Vivienne,” Astrid replied, pouring Vivienne a glass of water. “I’ll be heading back to work at the office in a few days. I’m going to need you to keep an eye on things at home. It’s been…”

“No need for a speech,” Vivienne interjected as Astrid started to get sentimental.

Astrid grinned. “What can I do? You’re just too lovable. Even chatting with you feels like a breath of fresh air.”

Sometimes, she wondered if she had saved the galaxy in a past life since this lifetime had blessed her with such a wonderful sister.

She could not be there to care for her parents or look after her little brother Thaddeus properly. Without Vivienne, she was at a loss.

And this time, if not for Vivienne, she might have… Well, she might not have made it at all.

As an agent for the National Security Bureau, she was acutely aware of the grim fate awaited someone like her if captured by enemy spies.

If not for Mr. B needing her DNA to conceal her identity and Alfred wanting to wring state secrets from her, she would have been silenced long ago.

Their last attempt to transfer her was meant to be the end of her. Her hair and eyes were more than sufficient to get her DNA.

If Vivienne had not found her in time, she would have faced not just death but the horror of being left unrecognizable.

Vivienne tapped her wrist lightly. “If you feel awkward about it, how about we pull some strings? What do you say?”

Astrid paused for a moment. “Pull some strings?”

“Yeah,” said Vivienne, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“What are you up to, Vivienne?” Astrid asked, puzzled.

Vivienne pulled out a document from her bag, an idea she had had since leaving the TIC Research Institute.

She had yet to find the right opportunity to implement it.

But with Astrid’s connections, they could surely find the perfect place.

the document and declared, “I’ll report

even Cordelia. Before Vivienne could respond, Astrid was already on the

could not help but laugh

his slow

took

it up. We’ll provide the location for free, but all findings must comply with national regulations and pass through the National Security Bureau. Do

“Agreed,” Nodded Vivienne.

she had no intention of keeping

stowed away her belongings and said, “I

outside and escorted her

in a particularly good mood, a smile

reached into the back and presented Vivienne with a box

times she saw it, Vivienne’s eyes lit

take your cake for nothing. I’ll trade you this,” she said, handing over the item she

chuckled. “Only you

planning to relocate the TCL lab,

enjoying the cake, Vivienne said, “I want to merge the TCL lab with the YQ lab. Our research directions are the same; there’s

the results directly, but the credit will still go

on fulfilling her mother’s last wishes, to complete the research she had left

for everything else, it mattered

his mentor,

his mentor’s passing, he set up the TCL lab to carry on her research and ensure the medical advancements she

YQ would mean more powerful medical technologies

have the nation’s endorsement, keeping outside

would not need to rely on upper-level approvals to keep the

Percival said, about to pull her close when she turned, swiftly polishing off the last of the

thought, “Do I look like

response

“Mr. Wolf, I traded you for

noticing the trace of cream on her lips, he leaned in and

sweetness of strawberries could not compare to

at Vivienne’s radiant cheeks, Percival felt a surge of affection. It took all his

lady was still young; he could not be

you call yourself civilized? My Vivienne, our goddess, and here