The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Diana locked eyes with Vesper and felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Guilt washed over her, and she quickly averted her gaze, scurrying back to her room.

Once inside, she realized she was drenched in a cold sweat, her fear palpable.

Then, the itch started. She scratched furiously, but it brought no relief. It felt as if a million tiny bugs were crawling over her skin.

Soon after, a bone-chilling cold enveloped her as if she had plunged into an icy cavern.

Outside, Vivienne withdrew her hand, her cheeks as cool and expressionless as a winter's dawn.

She had not outright killed Diana because something about the situation perplexed her. In this world, there was only one kind of poison that could elude her senses—Karen’s poison.

And yet, Diana had somehow managed to get her hands on it.

Vesper, too, pulled back in silence.

Though it was not tto strike a lethal blow, ensuring Diana suffered a little was within Vesper’'s means.

Feeling the cold grip of winter amid the height of summer certainly had a certain appeal.

“Vivienne, | will get to the bottom of this. Your suffering won't be in vain,” Jasper said, his features etched with concern.

Even if he trusted Diana would not do such a thing, it did not mean the juice Vivienne had been served was not poisonous.

Vivienne would never lie, and Vesper would not have forced the poison out without good reason.

“Grandpa, don’t worry about me, I'm fine.” Vivienne’s smile was a feeble attempt to ease his worry. She would handle this herself. [x] “Dad, lethelp you back inside. Mr. Linklater was supposed to—hey, where did Mr. Linklater go?” Yuri looked around, perplexed by Vesper’s sudden disappearance.

Vivienne turned, and sure enough, Vesper had vanished without a trace! She had been unguarded last time, but this time, she was on high alert, and he still managed to slip away.

Jasper suddenly realized he had not heard Finnian’s voice in a while. He turned around to find nothing but a grinning face carved onto an old banyan tree.

“That old codger, I'll get him one of these days!” Finnian cursed.

Vivienne reassured him. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I'll bring him back!” With purpose, she set off in pursuit. She had planted a tracker on Vesper, and now it was moving in a certain direction.

But when Vivienne reached the crossroads, she discovered the tracker had split, moving in different directions.

Narrowing her eyes, she saw that together, the locations spelled out a message: [Frost, you're still green!] Fuming, Vivienne punched the wall, creating a spiderweb of cracks.

She knew she was nowhere near as powerful as her mother yet. She had to train harder.

One day, she would catch up to Karen.

In the shadows, Finnian gasped in awe, turning to Vesper and saying, “You're done for. Your girl’s fuming. You won't have a single day of peace.” Vespers lips curved in a smile, eyes twinkling as he looked at Finnian. “No worries. It's you who won't have a single day of peace.” It dawned on Finnian that although Vivienne could not find Karen, she could certainly find him! “Like mother, like daughter!” Finnian snapped.

Karen's smile deepened. “Finnian, | learned from the best. Ta-ta!” With that, she slipped away. She had more pressing matters to attend to—Diana had made contact with GTO, and there was nothing simple about that.

Meanwhile, at Vanguard Agency.

Percival typed the last word and printed the document. The bold title stared back at him, reflecting a profound reluctance in his eyes.

Taking a moment, he rose from his chair and made his way to the director's office.

Vance’s face was a picture of surprise when he saw the papers in Percival’'s hand.

“Percival, are you sure you want to do this?” Vance frowned, searching Percival’s eyes for a hint of jest.

But there was none.

Percival’'s gaze was icy as he affirmed, “Yes, I'm resigning.” Slamming the resignation letter on the desk, Vance paced the office, seething.

“Percival, do you realize what you're doing? | know you have issues with me, and you're still sore over Leopold's case, but this is no reason to quit! Are you out of your mind?” Vance pointed accusingly at Percival, unable to contain his anger.

Percival was a rare talent with a strategic mind and a commendable record in the field. He was the youngest deputy director with a limitless future, spared even after almost causing a scandal—all because he was valued.

But now, he wanted to resign.

If that was not madness, what was? Percival’s expression was stoic, his resolve clear in his eyes. “My decision is well-considered.” Vance’s hands trembled in the air. If Percival were his apprentice, he would have slapped him by now.

“You're going to abandon Lark and GTO? Micah is still under investigation, and you're just walking away? All because you have a problem with me? Is it worth it?” Percival met Vance’s gaze, ever calm as if nothing could disturb the peace of his features.

“I will deal with my mentor’s issues and GTO in my own way. As for Micah, that’s what | need to discuss with you next.” Vance paused, a look of suspicion crossing his face. He could not quite grasp what Percival was planning.

After a long pause, he finally began to speak in a measured tone, “What exactly are you trying to say?” Percival settled into his seat, his posture exuding the aristocracy that cfrom years of holding authority. His every move was imbued with a sense of nobility.

Facing Vance, he was different than before.

In the past, no matter how infuriated Percival was, he always interacted with Vance as the deputy director.

But now, he was more like a negotiator, speaking to Vance from a higher position.

This meeting had transformed into a negotiation with Percival’s shift in demeanor.

“The reasons for my resignation are none of your concern. What you need to understand is that even if | leave the Vanguard Agency, | will not abandon the investigation into GTO.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Vance realized that if Percival were to step away from the Vanguard Agency, his actions could becmore convenient. He would not have to consider as much.

“Elaborate,” Vance said, easing back into his chair. As the patriarch of the Edwards Group in his public life, he was no stranger to negotiation.

Percival narrowed his eyes. “I want Micah reinstated to his former position.” “He’s been a long-trival of mine. I'll need a proper offer before | can agree,” Vance replied.

Percival reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a business card that bore nothing but a nand a phone number.

Vance took it, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, “You're Mr. Percy!” Mr. Percy, the enigmatic mastermind behind a powerful syndicate, was a man whose true identity and whereabouts remained a mystery to everyone.

Even the Vanguard Agency had failed to unravel the details of this elusive figure.

And now, it turned out to be Percival!