The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne and Percival's paperwork went through without a hitch. After a quick lunch, they wrapped up all the formalities within half an hour and collected the various IDs and permits issued by the authorities. The newlyweds' first stop was to drive to the HK Penitentiary.

After some restructuring by the Vanguard Agency, several convicts had been transferred from their previous underground cells to these more secure facilities.

Now, they were housed alongside traitors to the state and suspects involved in particularly heinous crimes.

The security was so tight, a fly couldn't buzz through the air without being zapped by one of the hidden laser guns in the corners.

It was Vivienne's first visit to this prison, and she discreetly looked around, the green light strips on the floor giving her the sensation of walking through the corridors of a high-tech spaceship from a sci-fi blockbuster.

"Are we going to send the criminals we catch to this place from now on?" Vivienne suddenly asked, turning to look at Percival.

The man nodded without hesitation, "The number of turncoats within the Vanguard Agency has the higher-ups on edge. From now on, all prisoners captured by any special division will be detained here. Without a pass from the top brass, no one is allowed to transfer them out."

And by the top brass, he meant the leader who oversaw all the special divisions.

A flicker of intrigue passed through Vivienne's eyes.

As they spoke, they were led to the cell where Whitford Abernathy was being held.

standard-issue gray jumpsuit, with black electronic shackles on his wrists. He barely glanced up at their arrival before turning back to his

his eyes slightly and gestured

compared to your brother, Cormac. He spent over

pricked his finger. Drops of blood fell, but he was too numb to react, his face finally showing a hint of emotion, "You've seen

retorted sharply. He reached for a piece of tissue to dab at the blood, his voice resolute, "Gavin promised to look after Cormac. You think you can take someone from the head of the Abernathy family?

sat down beside Vivienne, "The 'care' you're talking about, is that being exiled to

in Percival's voice

posted around your brother in that village can't even hold their own against the least competent of my subordinates, right?" sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website

one else he cared about, his brother was his soft spot. As Vivienne's voice trailed off, he threw aside his work

out with it but began recounting what she'd learned, "You colluded with Harrison to steal the Littleton family's pharmaceutical formulas, and conspired with Emrys to bring ruin to the Littleton family. I want you to testify in court, to

dilated, his knee-jerk reaction, "Impossible,

Whitford was unwilling to

tilted her head, her beautiful eyes

gaze effortlessly and smiled faintly, affectionately ruffling her hair. He pulled out a walkie-talkie

Soon after.

she remembered her mentor saying that the initial batch of serum had been sold off and was now primarily in the hands of the Abernathy family. Where did Percival get this bottle from? Reading Vivienne's surprise, Percival handed her the vial, "Last night, I had Thomas interrogate Cormac. The serum on him, it wasn't the same as the one your mother made. The

effect, is highly dangerous to the body. Without a regular antidote, it won't be long before Cormac

turned his gaze