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.

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

She had planted a tracker on Vesper, and now it was moving in a

reached the crossroads, she discovered the

together, the locations spelled

[Frost, you’re still green!]

the wall, creating a spiderweb

near as powerful as her

day, she would

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

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

that although Vivienne could not find Karen, she could certainly

mother, like

smile deepened. “Finnian, I learned from

attend to—Diana had made contact with

Meanwhile, at Vanguard Agency.

the last word and printed the document. The bold title stared back at him, reflecting a profound reluctance

rose from his chair

face was a picture of surprise when he saw the papers in Percival’s

you want to do this?” Vance

But there was none.

gaze was icy as he affirmed,

letter on the desk,

me, and you’re still sore over Leopold’s case, but this

at Percival, unable to contain

with a strategic mind and a commendable record in the field. He was the youngest deputy director with a limitless

now, he wanted to

not madness, what

stoic, his resolve clear in his

hands trembled in the air. If Percival were his apprentice, he would have slapped him by

is still under investigation, and you’re just walking away? All because you have a problem with me?

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

will deal with my mentor’s issues and GTO in my own way. As

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

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