The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne looked at her with a bemused expression that could only be described as watching a simpleton’s antics. “After all the times you’ve slipped through my fingers, did you really think I wouldn’t take precautions? If I let you escape again, where would that leave my reputation as a genius?”

Samantha was at a loss for words.

Rising to her feet, Vivienne approached Samantha with a commanding presence. “It seems you have no questions for me, and you’re not in the mood to answer mine either. So, let’s go!”

Samantha’s gaze inadvertently drifted towards the window. Silence reigned outside, not a soul in sight.

No one was coming to her rescue.

It dawned on her that this time, she couldn’t avoid her fate.

A devilish grin spread across Samantha’s face. “I have to admit, you’re impressive. But I haven’t lived these ninety years for nothing. You aren’t the only one who knows how to use poison…”

As she attempted to channel her inner energy, her expression suddenly froze.

What was happening?

Why couldn’t she harness her inner energy?

Vivienne’s lips curled into a slight smirk, watching Samantha’s stunned face. “We’ve faced off so many times, and I actually had a bit of respect for you. You’re the first one who’s given me a run for my money. But how could you become so naive?”

A sinking feeling gripped Samantha. Clenching her teeth, she fixed her eyes on Vivienne. “What are you implying?”

With a casual stance, hands in her pockets, Vivienne looked down at Samantha. “Why do you think I went through all this trouble to capture you?”

Samantha glared back in silence.

Vivienne indulged her with an answer. “It’s to prevent any possible escape attempts or suicide. Did you think you could use your inner energy to detonate a bomb inside you and take us down together? Sorry, I’m too young for that. I haven’t had enough quality time with my dear Mr. Wolf to check out just yet. So, when I came in, I not only drugged you but also used silver needles to seal your energy points.”

Thomas was speechless. Leopold was flabbergasted.

Vivienne and Percival were literally constantly flaunting their love.

Samantha’s voice was laced with disbelief. “Impossible. You don’t possess the skills of the ancient warrior lineages. You don’t even have energy points, so how could you seal mine without my noticing?”

could live with the fact that Vivienne had poisoned her without her noticing. After all, Vivienne’s medical skills were far beyond hers, and it would be understandable. However, she refused to believe Vivienne had sealed

90 because of her powerful inner energy. Even members of the ancient

I pilfered a secret tome from my mentor’s ancient warrior lineage. It just so happened to

warrior lineage, which she couldn’t understand. Fortunately, the book had illustrations. Back then, she had studied everything she could, eager to learn

in that book were fascinating, like a martial arts manual. She had once asked Finnian what it was, and he dismissed it as a worthless book. Despite her coaxing and threats, he wouldn’t

stole it

required a step-by-step approach, following the manual’s exact instructions. She only looked at the illustrations without knowing how to use them, which almost drove her to

was the first time her mentor had scolded her, and for a full five hours, no

learning. Seeing no other choice, Finnian finally translated the

encountering the ancient warrior lineages, inner energy was meaningless to her,

Until now, capturing Samantha.

energy,”

inner energy and that she hadn’t sensed it at all. Those with inner energy could

stronger than theirs was always perceptible. But she hadn’t

no bounds,”

room fell

this point, Samantha realized that she no longer held control over her life or death. Her eyelids drooped,

then turned to Thomas. “Take her

Thomas nodded, “Yes, madam.”

the others, secured Samantha, preparing to escort her

everyone of their senses in an instant.

Everyone complied.

fully settled, a figure charged towards

immediately launched an

palm out, and Vivienne and Percival felt an invisible pressure

was like a colossal mountain, aiming straight

“Percival! Madam!”

“Percival! Vivienne!”

“Vivienne!”

“Young Master!”

from the Emerald Monastery cried

bullets

that, in the blink of an eye, everyone but Vivienne and Percival seemed frozen in place, unable to