The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

William pondered for a moment before speaking up, “It was about two weeks before the boss took her own life.

She sent it toover the local network; it was a burn-after-reading kind of deal, leaving only this file with instructions to keep it safe, saying it would cin handy later. Then she just vanished without a trace.” “It was the sfor me. The boss madepromise not to let these secrets out,” Zachary also chimed in.

Vivienne’s brow furrowed with concern. It would cin handy later? How so? Her mother was dead. What good could it possibly do now? “Master, could this be... bionic technology?” William ventured to ask.

Vivienne nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I'm entrusting to you. I've consolidated all the Ashford and Boyd family resources, and the labs are all set up, but | don’t have the tto manage them. I'm hoping you can handle it. Will that work for you?” “Of course, it's perfect,” William replied, his voice tinged with excitement. “Master, aside from my work in holistic medicine, I've been relying on this document from the boss to research bionics. | always felt something was missing, but now that you've brought this to us, it’s all starting to make sense.” Zachary nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I've always wondered what the boss meant by it might cin handy.

Turns out she was waiting for you to cto us, Madam.” Vivienne’s lips curved into a slight smile.

Waiting for her to cto them? Did her mother have the scapabilities as her mentor, to know the future? How could her mother be so sure that she would come? A myriad of questions flickered through Vivienne’s a shaping into a theory.

“You guys can handle the Havenwood and Rivenwood affairs. Patrick has been making progress with the bionics project over the years, but he never quite cracked it. Keep pushing in that direction, and you're bound to see results soon.” After giving her instructions, Vivienne stood up. “If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.” With those final words, she left without looking back.

Vivienne felt confident entrusting the bionic technology to the combined expertise of the Pendleton and Churchill families.

With that matter settled, Vivienne made her way to the underground prison where Patrick was being held.

After a stint with the DEA, Patrick had been secretly transferred here by Percival.

Soaked and shivering in his water cell, Patrick was a pitiful sight to behold.

Vivienne sat across from him, studying his pale and swollen face without a shred of empathy.

Betraying her mother, manufacturing and trafficking drugs, stealing her mother’s research for profit, colluding with GTO...

Each and every act was a betrayal that struck at Vivienne’s core.

At the sound of her approach, Patrick struggled weakly and managed to gasp, “Madam... | know | was wrong.

Please, letgo.” Vivienne’s eyes narrowed as she asked coldly, “Where's F-Poison?” Patrick swallowed hard, the chains binding him clanking. “I don’t know. I've never met him. We've only ever communicated online.” “You've never met F-Poison, yet you chose to betray my mother?” Chilled by Vivienne’'s icy tone, Patrick shivered and stammered, “Initially, GTO approachedand offereda lot. They said | could make a fortune if | followed them. | was desperate for money, I...” Before Patrick could finish, Vivienne’s hand was already tightening around his throat.

Patrick could feel the fury in her grip as he struggled for his life, splashing water everywhere.

“I was wrong... Madam... | was wrong. Please, | beg you, letgo. | know | made a mistake.” Vivienne tightened her grip, her anger making her want to twist his neck right off. But as she saw the blood in Patrick’s eyes, she finally let go.

Patrick gasped for breath. For a moment, he thought he was truly going to die.

“Ahem... Madam, I'm telling the truth. | really haven't seen F-Poison, but | did meet a girl from GTO. She's the only one I've ever met.” Patrick hastily tried to prove his loyalty.

But his loyalty meant nothing now.

Vivienne's gaze sharpened, “Did F-Poison ever ask you for the bionics research?” Patrick choked, avoiding her gaze, “Yes... he did. But the technology is still immature. It only functions for ten seconds in front of people before it collapses. It's useless. Madam, that doesn’t change anything, right?” Patrick’s deepest connection was with Keco.

After all, the high-purity drugs they produced were extraordinarily lucrative and had sustained GTO’s finances for years.

With a swift chop, Vivienne knocked Patrick out cold. His head sank into the water, bubbling as he lost consciousness.

Stepping out of the water cell and sitting in her car, Vivienne could not shake the feeling that something was off.

When Imogen fled, she had the help of a projector, but no matter what, she could not have escaped from under her and Percival’s watch without leaving a trace.

The person who had “exploded” before them, leaving nothing behind, was not a person at all—it was a biorobot created by Imogen using Patrick’s bionic technology.

Ten seconds was all she needed.

But everyone's focus had been on finding the bomb; no one had noticed anything odd about Imogen’s behavior.

In retrospect, her movements had been logical, but her expressions were stiff, lacking the fear of someone facing imminent death.

Nonetheless, Vivienne had never expected a biorobot to be so convincing.

This also explained why the hair left at the scene was made of synthetic fibers.

Using a projector to cover up bionic technology—this F-Poison was indeed clever.

After all, anyone who could outmaneuver the likes of Karen and Percival for so long had to be smart.

The car's engine hummed as she drove away, her mind racing with the implications of her discovery.

Startled by a tap on her car window, Vivienne snapped back to reality and turned her head, finding Percival standing in front of her vehicle, holding a box of strawberry shortcake.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Vivienne stepped out of the car, ignoring the strawberry shortcake, and instead buried her head in Percival’s chest, hugging him tightly.

A flash of surprise twinkled in Percival’s eyes.

This was the first tVivienne had resisted the temptation of strawberry shortcake! Indeed, twas the best proof.

He had finally triumphed over the strawberry shortcake! Vivienne took a few deep breaths, reaching for the shortcake.

But Percival held it just out of reach.

Nearly five-foot-seven, Vivienne was still too short to reach the coveted dessert with Percival’s added height and outstretched arm.

“Mr. Wolf!” Vivienne pouted playfully, her voice tinged with a whiny undertone.

Percival pinned her against the car, still keeping the shortcake aloft, but lowered his head to lock eyes with her.

“Kiss me.” Vivienne’s face was a picture of confusion.

“Kiss me, and the strawberry shortcake is yours,” Percival gestured to his lips, a meaningful gaze fixed on Vivienne.