The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gillian slouched pathetically between two chairs, her eyes pleading for sympathy.

Vance and Micah stood behind her, shaking their heads in silence before circling around to face her.

“Gillian, the surveillance caught what you did. You’ve been flagged as the prime suspect, and when the higher-ups get here, you’ll have to explain yourself.”

Gillian clutched her face in feigned innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about! Besides, I can’t even see this supposed surveillance you’re mentioning. How can I be sure you’re not just framing me? And I’ll have you know, I’m pressing charges against Vivienne for this mess. She won’t get away with what she did to me!”

Vivienne snorted with laughter and pulled a packet from her bag, tossing a facial mask onto Gillian’s face.

The moment it touched her skin, Gillian let out a squeal like a pig being slaughtered. Miraculously, her face returned to normal, not a single mark to be seen.

Then, Vivienne shoved the footage in front of her. “This is you, right?”

Gillian nodded. “Yes, that’s me, but I was just checking the screens at the command console. It’s my job to keep records. Is that a crime now?”

With a swift motion, Vivienne slapped Gillian across the face.

It wasn’t just for the sake of it—her palm was itching for justice!

The slap left Gillian’s cheek swelling even more than before, ballooning up instantly.

“That’s your problem to explain!” Vivienne said with disdain, handing over the tablet to Micah. “I’ll be waiting for the outcome.”

With that, Vivienne turned on her heel and walked away.

Gillian scrambled toward the door, only to be tripped up by Micah’s cane, which “accidentally” landed on her already fractured ankle.

“Ah!” she cried out, pain knocking her out cold.

in a hospital ward—the genuine patient

could

I hit my head on some equipment, and

was a slobbering mess, insisting on her

nodded along. “I hear you. You’re new here, still wet behind the ears. It’s normal to make a mistake now and then. My daughter is younger than

curled

at the Vanguard Agency. If I can’t trust you, who can I

“I knew you’d believe me, Director.

sell her story, she added an extra swoon

your condition. From now on, Sophia will handle all

Was Vance stripping her of her authority? Headquarters

“Director, I…”

enough. Rest up. The headquarters has sent an investigative team. Just cooperate with them, and don’t

words were firm, his belief

her days of pulling strings

left, the shock was evident on Gillian’s

Vanguard Agency, and now Vance dismissed her with just a

than the Sea City main office’s investigation team

the situation, she would be detained for a while. What would

if the daughter of a notorious drug dealer could infiltrate Vanguard Agency as a secretary from

feeling a knot of unresolved anger. If Gillian dared to return to Rivenwood Vanguard Agency, Vivienne would ensure

been

questioning, there was still one

market F-Poison had dipped into before with their synthetic robots. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think Dracon

Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? Touch me, and you’ll

was shackled in a dim basement, his hollow

learned of Benjamin’s mishap the same day and knew his exposure was imminent.