The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In an instant, Brody’s mind raced with countless ways to make a break for it, his feet itching to bolt.

Unfortunately for him, in Vivienne’s grasp, there was no chance of escape.

“Blowing up my lab now, huh? Living a little too comfortably these days, aren’t we?” Vivienne said, her grip firm on Brody’s shoulder, patting his head like he was a naughty puppy.

Brody glared at Vivienne and retorted, “Cut me some slack, Specter Healer! I was just experimenting!”

“You’ve got some nerve!” Vivienne raised her hand, poised to strike again.

A real man knows when to fold. Brody, raising his hands to his ears, shouted, “Okay, okay, I was wrong!”

Only then did Vivienne relax her stance.

On the sidelines, Karen chuckled. “You must be Brody, right?”

Hearing her, Brody shot Karen an impatient look, “Yes, and who might you be? Have we met…”

He took a closer look at Karen and realized something about her face seemed familiar. Suddenly, his eyes widened in recognition. “It’s you! You’re Evelyn!”

Vivienne was taken aback, not expecting Brody to know her mother.

Karen just smiled at Brody, her gaze filled with an enigmatic meaning as she stepped forward and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. “Still as impolite as ever, huh? Don’t you know how to greet your master properly?”

As she finished her words, a sharp pain shot through Brody’s shoulder, causing him to buckle under her grip.

Vivienne was even more surprised.

Since when had her mother become Brody’s master?

But Brody was wise enough to know when to give in. He wailed, “Master, I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

“You’re sorry? Stealing my research papers, running off with lab secrets, do you think a simple apology is enough?” Karen’s gaze was fierce, her grip tightening.

Brody’s body was nearly doubled over, powerless to resist, like a lamb in the grip of a lioness.

“Mom, since when did he become your disciple?” Vivienne asked with a hint of amusement.

and daughter! No wonder I couldn’t just

a bit of guidance, he was able

knack for things that

show, with no intention of intervening

I’ve got something to tell you. Can you—can your mom… my dear master

finally spoke up leisurely. “Mom, let him go. I’ve got a

no real intention

rubbing his shoulder. “No wonder this lab looked so familiar. I couldn’t beat you because you’re mother and daughter. It’s like I’m cursed

never have remembered that before he became ‘Brody,’ he had interned in a

the name of Evelyn. She was busy with her own lab while leading a

she had given him a few

man would one day steal her lab secrets and

he would run into the daughter

task I gave you coming

breath. “Why don’t you ask your mom? Wasn’t this

in Karen’s lab, and back then, he lacked the skills to

one Brody was responsible for his potion

his

changing direction with every bit of progress we make. It’s devouring the old cells and spawning new ones, like

and Karen crouched before the potion cultures, engrossed in the

thought it only had healing effects, but now it seemed that those effects were merely

like a self-healing

frowned. “This thing keeps giving me surprises every

healing properties and found them odd. But

kind of virus is GTO researching that could

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

or remedy in the world has a dual nature, saving or taking lives at

adequately diluted,

pinch of the wrong substance, could turn

before them, with reactions of healing, self-healing, regeneration,

deeper than we imagined,”

Vivienne shared the sentiment.

ultimate goal was not just to develop something