The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

When Vivienne and Percival turned to look again, the woman in red had vanished without a trace.

Vivienne wanted to chase after her, but Percival grabbed her wrist. “Vivienne, let it go. She hasn’t shown us her full hand yet.”

Even for Vivienne and Percival, it had been a stalemate at best. If they pursued her, their chances of victory were slim.

Besides, their main reason for coming to M State was to rescue people, and now that they had, their mission was complete. However, they still hadn’t figured out why the puppet master behind this charade had gone to such lengths.

Vivienne peered in the direction the red-clad woman had disappeared, her gaze murky and unreadable.

Atop a nearby hill, the woman in red stood, her eyes fixed on the scene below where she could see Vivienne’s group.

Lucky for her, she had packed a smoke grenade, which briefly obscured their vision, allowing her a swift escape.

It had been years, and it was time for her to return to Veridia.

She scoffed disdainfully, snapped her fan shut, and walked away. “Wait for it. We’ll meet again.”

…

Elsewhere.

Huxley had fainted from fright during the scuffle and was now jabbed awake by Vivienne’s needle.

“You guys alright?” Vivienne asked, looking toward Larry and Carl.

Larry, clutching his chest, replied, “Vivienne, we’re fine.”

He had sustained some injuries, but they weren’t a big deal for him.

shook his head, too, indicating he

the red-clad woman

I was a

wanted to punch him out of frustration but restrained

they had met before. The mention of having held Vivienne as a child had also piqued his curiosity. However, he combed through his memory but

The face under the mask was probably not

people are masters of disguise; they wouldn’t

she mentioned Samantha. What’s

investigate Samantha’s

at Percival. “Mr. Wolf, it’s time to head

full of questions, wondering why they were returning home without having completed their mission. Were they

“Okay,” Percival nodded.

However, she was not exactly going to cause a problem. After

here in M State? Apart from being third wheels, what else did

and Percival:

get used

the first time Vivienne had encountered such tactics. The silver needles from her fan were coated in a

a severely shaken Huxley, Vivienne addressed the latter, “Didn’t F-Poison capture

tale of woe began. “I have no idea! Back then, Mom lost everything for that man, leaving my sister and I with only each other to

I almost lost it, she suddenly brought me to this sanatorium, where I

lowered, hiding the look

want to come

Huxley replied without

in a mysterious smile.

jets could be heard outside. The uncles peeked out to see two sleek private

but ask, “Just two planes? How

“Uncles, Vivienne and I will head back first. In a day, someone will come to

Everyone was puzzled.