The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Kala felt a twinge of guilt twisting in her stomach. She took out her phone and found Vivienne’s chat but was at a loss for what to say.

She typed a few words, only to delete them all.

‘Thank you’ seemed too trivial.

In her heart, Vivienne still irked her, yet there she was, offering help unconditionally.

She did not feel she had the right even to utter those words of gratitude.

After hesitating for a long time, Kala exited the chat and dialed Vivienne’s number instead.

“Hello?”

Vivienne’s calm voice came through, and Kala bit her lip before speaking up, “Vivienne, I… Thank you.”

Vivienne chuckled softly. “Thank me for what? Aren’t you my sister?”

The whole Brooks family debacle had started because of her.

Nonetheless, Vivienne genuinely treated Kala’s family as one of her own.

Vivienne’s circle was small; she valued those who were sincere to her and was always ready to reciprocate.

Besides, the acquisition was a minor matter for her. So minor it was almost trivial.

Kala paused, then suddenly laughed, “Right, I am your elder sister, and you’ll always be my little sis.”

Who cared about blood relations? She and Vivienne could still be sisters, best friends even.

Vivienne laughed again, “Just don’t let me lose money, sis. I’m broke!”

Kala snorted with laughter. “Boss, I’ll make sure every dime you spent acquiring the Glory project comes back to you with interest. I’m not any less capable than Stephen.”

Vivienne’s voice was cheerful as she said, “Great, I’m looking forward to your success.”

Another money-maker on the team!

Not bad at all!

After hanging up, Vivienne put away her phone.

Outside her office, Anna knocked on the door. “Ms. Vivienne, it’s time to head out.”

snapped back to

her nondescript clothes and those signature black-rimmed glasses, her hair lazily draped over her

“Can’t you try a different

her year-round, she no longer

head, saying, “I guess I’m just

the lab,

were spending money before it was even earned – not exactly

Anna nodded.

follow Ms. Vivienne’s lead; that was the first rule handed down

…

YQ lab, everyone was busily

glasses, squatted on the floor, studying a potion’s

seemed out of place, like a

this? Why are only three components

mumbled to himself,

beside him, looking at the simulation. “All drugs have their poison. Even the best medicine can harm if

producing a healing effect. The dosage, this data… And a

Vivienne’s lips curled slightly.

mother were lethal; a mere milliliter could kill a robust adult, even more potent

why, over the years, she had been developing an

process, she discovered that the potion produced a healing

discovery, she combined

not decomposed; they were consumed by the potion,

were

denying that the potion’s healing effect consumed the viruses, but the new strains were far too aggressive to be

question was precisely what she had sought to

at Rex. “Figuring out what it truly wants to heal will

nodded. “You

turned to look at Vivienne, his eyes lit up. “It’s you! I knew you’d be the only one in the

smile deepened.

say.” Rex preened, confident

met your match,

Rex’s expression darkened.

was holding back rage, crushing his grievances in

narrowed her eyes slightly. “Well then, good

she left the YQ

tried to make sense of the potion’s decomposition simulation in the car but could not

green,” she admitted, comparing herself to her mother, who had been

genius isn’t an easy path,” Vivienne said, her gaze

“Are you

sleek drift, “Nope, just