The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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She glanced at Soren’s retreating figure, knowing full well her recent tie in combat was just a stroke of luck.

Soren was still nursing an old injury, not yet back in top form.

Percival approached with the detached professionalism of a captain, addressing Anna, “A month from now will be the final assessment. Pass that, and I’ll arrange for you to start interning in the lab while carrying out missions.”

Anna saluted smartly. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you or Vivienne down.”

Vivienne watched her with a hint of amusement. The girl was a quick study.

While Leopold drove Vivienne and Percival back to their estate, Anna was left at the Vanguard Agency’s training camp to hone her skills.

On the way, Leopold queried, “Vivienne, do you think Anna’s got what it takes? The Agency’s training isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Despite Anna’s draw with Soren, he was worried.

“If you made it through, she will too,” Vivienne replied nonchalantly, leaning on Percival’s shoulder.

Percival nodded in agreement, “Right, makes sense.”

Leopold glanced in the rear-view mirror, catching the couple’s affectionate display, and asked belatedly, “Hang on. What do you mean ‘if I made it through’? I’m way better than Anna, okay?”

Vivienne lifted her gaze lazily, “She’s nineteen. How old are you?”

Leopold fell silent.

Alright, he asked for it. He should just shut up!

With a snap, he pulled down the visor.

Out of sight, out of mind, right?

…

A month later.

The assessment at Vanguard Agency officially began. The YQ and TCL labs had merged, keeping the YQ lab’s name.

Vivienne arrived at the lab first, taking in the familiar surroundings.

just like the one

month meticulously restoring it to

working diligently as she approached

the path her

followed

head of YQ lab, Holden had been orienting his team

in acknowledgment, her eyes catching an unfinished experimental report on the

been trying to replicate that 3D biological printer, but

of operation, Holden and his team had been

“These numbers are correct, but you’ve

had been stuck for a month, but

Admiration was an understatement.

Vivienne’s expertise, they eagerly surrounded her with reports from their

brief discussion, Vivienne asked, “Who’s handling the potion

holding a copy of Hippocrates’ Corpus. His hair was neatly trimmed, his nails clean, and he wore silver-rimmed glasses with a naive yet

the potions,”

him up, feeling an

“Ma’am, his name is Rex. He’s a recent hire. Young, yes, but a medical prodigy and

said, “Show

handed over his half-finished report. Each word was deliberate

nodded, impressed

about. I’ll report back to the director once I’ve figured them

scribbled a

the numbers for a moment, his eyes

said, “How long have you been working

casually, clutching the report as he headed to his workstation, engrossed in

utterly devoted to medicine. We’re all used to it

dedication reminded her of someone, though that

they spoke, Percival

Vivienne turned.

tougher after a month, with fresh scars on her exposed

“Special squad third division operative Anna, reporting for

Third division?

not Soren’s

Percival, who explained, “Luck of the draw. She

Anna’s shoulder. “Passing