The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the bowels of an unnamed city, a clandestine lab was the scene of yet another failure for Calista. Her frustration at yet another botched experiment reached a tipping point, and she sent glassware and papers flying off her desk in a fit of rage.

Why was she unable to develop the “Boar Poison”? And why, oh why, could she not surpass Vivienne’s accomplishments in medicine? She was just as competent, if not more so. Yet, this “Boar Poison” formula continued to elude her grasp.

The door to the lab burst open, and Calista jolted upright, stumbling backward in a panic. “Mr. B… I’m working on it. I’ll have it soon. I promise no more troubles, oh!”

However, before she could finish, a pair of iron-strong hands grabbed her by the hair, slamming her head against the sharp edge of the lab table. Blood gushed from a gash on her forehead, painting her vision in a haze of red.

Mr. B’s face twisted with fury as she continued to shake Calista by the head, bashing her against the wall and the table, unleashing his anger.

Calista felt the grim reaper’s presence, certain her last breath was imminent.

Finally, Mr. B ceased her onslaught, flinging Calista to the floor with a force that was calculated—cruel enough to torment but careful enough to keep her alive.

Blinking through the blood, Calista made out the scar that marked Mr. B’s face, a constant reminder of her cruelty.

Trembling, Calista knelt, pleading. “Mr. B, please give me another chance.”

Mr. B, with a nonchalant gesture, unscrewed a water bottle and poured its contents over Calista’s head, leaving just enough to quench his thirst.

Calista’s hair dripped, and a chill crept over her limbs.

Mr. B exhaled deeply, troubled by recent events. A bounty hunter had been snooping around, constraining her operations. Thankfully, her location remained a secret, or the hunter would have already been on her tail.

Turning back to Calista, she said, “Do you realize the lengths we went to to pull you out? Twice I’ve risked exposure for you, and you’ve been nothing but useless!”

Calista shuddered with fear. “I’m close to a breakthrough, I swear. The ‘Boar Poison’ will be ready soon.”

Mr. B

she failed to secure the “Boar Poison,” but she

Calista and that man was

her demeanor shifted as she walked to a

“Hello.”

the other side, a passive

glared at Calista again

B might give

phone seemed to be doing

stunned momentarily

she’s still of use to them. In exchange, they’ll give us

Poison in exchange for Fiona? I didn’t expect Fiona to be this important to them. Did you

never committed that big of a crime. The Boar Poison is more important than that. Things will be much easier

“Okay. Understood.”

and smiled,

down, raised Calista’s chin, and said, “Recover well. I

quickly as she could. “Okay, I got

…

pull strings to free her husband. With her daughter gone and Jeffrey as the sole heir, the family’s status

you Fiona’s family? She’s sick and

in the cell and would have died if not for the warden’s timely discovery. Afterward, she was sent to the hospital and was diagnosed with severe Organic cardiovascular disease, more commonly known as acute heart disease, something that could take her life easily if not treated with caution. Basically, she was unfit

a knowing smile. Fiona’s sudden and convenient illness was

one escaped. I’ve known Fiona for so many years and have

smiled and did not

Fiona’s health before she was imprisoned

sofa with Vivienne’s leftover fruit juice, looking at

was his direct