The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne's mind raced to one name the moment the trouble started.

Abigail.

It seemed they couldn't hide their true colors any longer.

Percival seemed to have reached the same conclusion. Stepping forward, he took Vivienne's hand, "They've tipped their hand too early. Just a nudge from us and they'll reveal themselves completely." Vivienne's eyes narrowed.

She wasn't sure of many things.

But one thing she was certain of was that those bold enough to cross her were in for a rough ride.

Draven arrived with his team to report to Vivienne, "Boss, we lost their trail midway through the south side of town, but we managed to intercept some of their cargo, now stored in..."

"How many are injured?"

Draven paused, then lowered his gaze, "Nothing serious, just minor injuries."

Vivienne stepped forward, grabbed Draven's wrist to check for himself, and frowned, "Injured near the heart and you call this minor?"

After her inspection, she pulled out a half-bottle of the Life-saving Elixir from her pocket, "Distribute this, and don't say I don't take care of my team."

Draven stood frozen, holding the half-bottle of Life-saving Elixir.

As Vivienne and Percival walked further in, Leopold came over and patted Draven on the shoulder, "Man, you should count your blessings. Do you have any idea how precious Vivienne's Life-saving Elixir is? She gave you half a bottle. Even my mentors haven't received such generosity.

"Leopold, are you coming or not?"

Vivienne's voice echoed from ahead, and Leopold instantly switched gears, "Ah, yeah, coming, coming... Wait up, Vivienne..."

In the room, a hole revealed a hidden painting, beneath which was a secret lab.

What it was used for, only a personal inspection would reveal.

Draven handed Vivienne a gas mask, his face no longer pale, "Boss, we're not sure if these documents were left as a decoy. It might be risky, better wear this." Vivienne took it and put it on.

Abigail had managed to stay under the radar for so long, her planning was undoubtedly meticulous.

These items might not hold significant value.

But for Vivienne, it could be a crucial clue to unraveling Abigail's secrets.

a gas mask, "Bring

hearing 'two more,' Leopold's heart sank, "You don't mean one

a look, "Are you coming or

wanted to cry: With everyone going down,

they talked, Vivienne

laboratory. All equipment that couldn't be moved in time was destroyed, leaving only scattered documents. Vivienne picked up the

"The Elixir of Immortality."

up, "It's

about finding the elixir of immortality? From heart-stealing to experiments, what's wrong with her mind?" "Thinks she's the next Queen Elizabeth, clinging

picture Abigail as a monstrous entity, neither male

a person

her a witch was

off, "Vivienne, why would someone researching immortality need living human hearts? How do those

not be for the immortality research, but it's definitely related to

Vivienne thought the same.

alter human

a heart

from the scenes they'd encountered,

the fresh hearts

resembled a ritual offering

reason behind it might not be far

at the intercepted cargo of ST-1 prototypes, Vivienne found them

Percival helped Vivienne up.

Leopold below, dumbfounded, "Vivienne,

he couldn't possibly

that gear

her ear and instructed Draven, "It's of no use, burn it all." Leopold, startled,

a change in expression, "If you don't come up now there really will be

Wright

home, had just parked her car in the garage when she spotted a shadow darting nearby, its

She screamed in fright.

its sneaky advance, turning towards her

pale,

to look as

"Don't

I beg you. I'm