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.

mother and daughter! No wonder I couldn’t just beat you like that! I knew there

and with a bit of guidance, he was able to unlock some pretty deep medical mysteries. It’s just a shame his mind’s always on

have a knack for things that align with my thinking, thanks to your

enjoying the show, with

gloomy expression, “Vivienne, I’ve got something to tell you. Can you—can your mom…

let him go. I’ve got

her grip, having no real intention of harming

looked so familiar. I couldn’t beat you because you’re mother and daughter. It’s like I’m cursed by

Karen here, Brody would never have remembered that before

was busy with her

by Brody’s talent, she had given him

would one day steal her lab secrets and

that, years later, he

task I gave you coming along?” Vivienne

“Why don’t you ask your

Vivienne’s potion stemmed from his experience in Karen’s lab, and back then, he

one Brody was responsible for

his

a mind of its own. It keeps changing direction with every bit

the potion cultures, engrossed in the phenomenon Brody

now it seemed that

like a self-healing

thing keeps giving me surprises

the potion’s healing properties and found them odd. But now, this reaction was

GTO researching

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

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

poisons, adequately diluted, could

a pinch of the wrong substance, could turn into

before them, with reactions

than we imagined,” Karen mused,

Vivienne shared the sentiment.

was not just to