The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Diana locked eyes with Vesper and felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Guilt washed over her, and she quickly averted her gaze, scurrying back to her room.

Once inside, she realized she was drenched in a cold sweat, her fear palpable.

Then, the itch started. She scratched furiously, but it brought no relief. It felt as if a million tiny bugs were crawling over her skin.

Soon after, a bone-chilling cold enveloped her as if she had plunged into an icy cavern.

Outside, Vivienne withdrew her hand, her cheeks as cool and expressionless as a winter’s dawn.

She had not outright killed Diana because something about the situation perplexed her. In this world, there was only one kind of poison that could elude her senses—Karen’s poison.

And yet, Diana had somehow managed to get her hands on it.

Vesper, too, pulled back in silence.

Though it was not time to strike a lethal blow, ensuring Diana suffered a little was within Vesper’s means.

Feeling the cold grip of winter amid the height of summer certainly had a certain appeal.

“Vivienne, I will get to the bottom of this. Your suffering won’t be in vain,” Jasper said, his features etched with concern.

Even if he trusted Diana would not do such a thing, it did not mean the juice Vivienne had been served was not poisonous.

Vivienne would never lie, and Vesper would not have forced the poison out without good reason.

“Grandpa, don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” Vivienne’s smile was a feeble attempt to ease his worry. She would handle this herself.

“Dad, let me help you back inside. Mr. Linklater was supposed to—hey, where did Mr. Linklater go?” Yuri looked around, perplexed by Vesper’s sudden disappearance.

Vivienne turned, and sure enough, Vesper had vanished without a trace!

She had been unguarded last time, but this time, she was on high alert, and he still managed to slip away.

Jasper suddenly realized he had not heard Finnian’s voice in a while. He turned around to find nothing but a grinning face carved onto an old banyan tree.

“That old codger, I’ll get him one of these days!” Finnian cursed.

reassured him. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll bring

planted a tracker on Vesper, and now it

crossroads, she discovered the tracker had split, moving in

eyes, she saw that together, the locations spelled out a

[Frost, you’re still green!]

wall, creating a

as powerful as her mother yet. She

would catch up to

and saying, “You’re done for. Your girl’s fuming. You won’t have a single day

as he looked at Finnian. “No worries. It’s you who won’t have a single day of

could not find

like daughter!” Finnian

deepened. “Finnian, I learned from

matters to attend to—Diana had made contact with

Meanwhile, at Vanguard Agency.

The bold title stared back at

from his chair and

a picture of surprise when he saw the papers

want to do this?” Vance frowned, searching Percival’s eyes for a

But there was none.

as he affirmed, “Yes,

the desk, Vance paced the

you’re still sore over Leopold’s case, but this is no reason to quit! Are

pointed accusingly at Percival, unable to

with a strategic mind and a commendable record in the field. He was the youngest deputy director with a limitless future, spared even after almost causing a scandal—all because he was

he wanted to

that was not madness, what

resolve clear in

air. If Percival were his apprentice, he would

and you’re just walking away? All because you have a problem with me?

met Vance’s gaze, ever calm as if nothing could disturb the peace

own way.

a look of suspicion crossing his face. He could not quite grasp what Percival was

pause, he finally began to speak in a measured tone, “What exactly are you trying to