The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne steadied herself, gently easing Percival’s hand away.

Approaching Jasper again, she listened to his strained breathing, her expression growing more serious by the moment.

Taking a deep breath, Vivienne raised the needle in her hand and aimed for Jasper’s pressure point.

Bang!

Vivienne was sent flying, her speed so swift that even Percival could not intercept her in time, barely managing to grasp her hand.

“Vivienne!” Percival half-knelt on the ground, cradling the fallen Vivienne in his arms and propping her against his leg.

A gush of dark blood surged from Vivienne’s lips, her complexion turning deathly pale.

Yuri hurried over, pressing down on the heel of Vivienne’s hand with vigor.

“Vivienne, feeling any better?” Yuri asked with concern.

Vivienne nodded, standing up with the support of Percival’s hand, a flash of disbelief in her eyes.

She had failed to administer the needle?

What could possibly be the reason?

What on earth was hiding inside Jasper’s body?

“I’ll try again.” Vivienne was determined; her skills would not fail her now!

Percival, Yuri, and Zelda all tried to dissuade her, worried for her safety. “Vivienne, don’t try again.”

“Yeah, Vivienne, let me figure something out. If it happens again, your meridians could shatter.”

“Vivienne, take a seat and rest. Drink this; it will help balance your energy pathways.” Zelda handed her a cup filled with blue water.

Recognizing the extremely rare Blue Infusion, Vivienne took the cup and drank it down, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself. Grandpa is more important.”

With that, Vivienne stepped forward once more. Yuri tried to stop her, but Percival raised a hand.

shook his head at Yuri and said, “Let Vivienne do

spoke, he stood behind Vivienne, arms outstretched in a protective

be there to cushion the

on the final pressure point, channeling all her energy into the tip of the needle and

in Vivienne’s hand. Despite exerting all her strength, she could not

Yuri placed a hand on Vivienne’s

with greater force. Sweat beaded on Vivienne’s

deeply, releasing all her

Another loud bang.

to his knees, the hand that had touched Vivienne’s wrist throbbing with pain as if a thousand

and the effects of the Blue Infusion, Vivienne did not suffer shattered meridians, but she nearly

needle in her hand shattered

had absorbed some of the impact, coughed up blood, feeling as if his internal organs had

each a cup of Blue Infusion, which offered a

going on? What happened? Vivienne, are you

with Vivienne and the others in such a state, Zelda felt helpless, her

in a bit, don’t worry. Could you please

nodded vigorously, wiping away her tears. “Vivienne, don’t exert yourself anymore. I’ll

the kitchen, and the

you holding

gripped his right arm. “I’ll survive, it’s

“Mr. Wolf?”

his heartbeat

brow and tried to stand but found herself completely drained. Sitting back down, she pulled out her phone

had not changed; now that his staged death had

quickly, and his voice had a hint of mischief, “Little girl, we agreed your fiancé

the fresh blood

tone shifted to seriousness upon hearing

collapsed, but I can’t penetrate his heart with a needle. Something is blocking

this time, even her