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.

declared, “I’ll

could respond, Astrid was already on

not help but laugh somewhat

got his slow

definitely took

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

“Agreed,” Nodded Vivienne.

the nation; she had no intention of keeping

away her belongings and said,

and

particularly good mood, a smile playing

into the back and presented Vivienne with a box of

matter how many times she saw it, Vivienne’s eyes lit up at

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

chuckled. “Only you

been planning to relocate the TCL lab, and Vivienne had

the cake, Vivienne said, “I want to merge the TCL lab with the YQ lab. Our research directions are the same; there’s no need

The nation will oversee the results directly, but the credit will still go to the

last wishes, to

for everything else, it

his mentor, feeling a twinge of

his mentor’s passing, he set up the TCL lab to carry on her research

YQ would mean more powerful

nation’s endorsement, keeping outside interference

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

pull her close when she

thought, “Do I look like I’m after

response was,

bite. “Mr. Wolf, I traded you

of cream on her

taste of cream and the sweetness of strawberries could not compare

surge of affection. It

still young; he could not be

“And you call yourself