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.

surprise, “Mom? You two are mother and daughter! No wonder I couldn’t just beat you

bit of guidance, he was able to unlock some

knack for things that

show, with no intention of

pleaded with a gloomy expression, “Vivienne, I’ve got something to tell you. Can you—can your mom… my dear master let go

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

released her grip, having 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

that before he became ‘Brody,’ he had interned

Karen went under the name of Evelyn. She was busy with her own lab while leading

she had given

did she know this gifted young man would one day steal her

never imagined that, years later, he would run into the daughter of his

gave you coming along?” Vivienne

don’t you ask your mom? Wasn’t this what

stemmed from his experience in Karen’s lab,

moved into another lab, one

smart enough to keep his potion experiments separate to avoid another

of its own. It keeps changing direction with every bit of progress we make. It’s devouring the old

Karen crouched before the potion cultures, engrossed in the phenomenon

but now it seemed that those

like a

thing keeps giving me surprises every

found them odd.

of virus is GTO researching that

Vivienne was deeply puzzled.

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

adequately diluted, could

a pinch of the wrong substance, could turn into

the potion before them, with reactions

deeper than we imagined,” Karen mused, her brows

Vivienne shared the sentiment.

ultimate goal was not just