The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Jack and Ethan were both equally matched in strength, and mindful of the fact that they were in Vivienne's lab, both of them hesitated to exert their full force.

But as the scuffle progressed, they got carried away, lost in their own world of grunts and thuds, oblivious to everything else.

Leopold was practically biting his nails off in anxiety. He glanced at Vivienne, who remained silent throughout, and then at Percival, who watched with a mischievous glint in his eye, and couldn't help but mentally pray for Brody.

"Hey, Husky, what's the scoop here? How did these two end up duking it out? And aren't you accompanying Griffin Martinez?" Anna asked with the nonchalance of a spectator at a boxing match.

Leopold bristled at the nickname, "Don't call'Husky', Anna! And what do you mean by that? I'm not tethered to the Martinez family. Can't a guy get sfresh air without it being a big deal?" He huffed, "You want to know so badly? Well, I'm not telling!" Vivienne and Percival gave him a look that could freeze hell over.

Like a scolded pup, Anna could almost hear Leopold's whimpers. “Okay, okay, I'll spill it, Vivienne. I swear on my mother's apple pie, this mess has nothing to do with me!" "Get to the point," Vivienne demanded, massaging her temples.

Leopold could be such a chatterbox; she'd be old and gray before he finished his story.

Leopold cleared his throat, "Well, the gist is, I was here to pick up sgear. Just as I arrived, I heard Brian arguing with Rex." Turned out, it was nothing serious.

Brian had been tasked by Vivienne to keep an eye on Brody, which meant Brian hadn't been on any missions for a while and was itching for saction. He decided to try his luck with Brody.

"What's up, big guy, feeling idle?" Brody rolled his eyes at the thought of being used as a pawn for Brian's schemes again, especially after last time's debacle with the bonus money.

Brody had finally landed a gig analyzing Karen's artifacts. No way was he about to drop that for Brian's wild goose chase.

Brian wouldn't back down, though. "I'm bored out of my skull, you know. Vivienne askedto babysit you, make sure you don't get into trouble!" Brody snorted. With Vivienne's project and his own research at stake, he wasn't going anywhere. But Brian persisted, and somehow their verbal tiff turned physical.

"Mr. Wolf, stop gawking. It's embarrassing," Vivienne groaned, wishing she could vanish into thin air.

Percival's deep chuckle was far too soothing for the situation. “Embarrassing? I should record this and post it online. People love a good brawl." Vivienne thought, "You just love stirring the pot, don't you?" Percival shrugged, "These young bucks are always vying for your attention. They want to challenge me? They're not even in my league." Leopold and Anna, having heard the entire story, were too scared to make a sound.

Suddenly, a loud slap echoed through the lab! The hubbub of the lab ground to a halt as everyone's attention shifted from their work to where Brian and Brody stood, frozen, staring in one direction.

"Ms. Hawthorn!" The nrang out, and Leopold noticed Brody and Brian shiver at the mention of Vivienne's name.

Percival, subtly poking fun, whispered, "Vivienne?" He was well aware that his girl was all about the bottom line. This lab was her mother's and her own life's work. And those azure countertops with their beakers and vials held potions worth a fortune.

And now, these two had managed to spill them! Without a word, Vivienne passed a wooden box to Percival.

"Seems like you two had quite the party in my lab, huh? Do you even know what's inside here?" She dipped a cotton swab into the spilled potion; the brownish-red liquid instantly stained the swab.

Percival's eyes narrowed, recalling the failed elixirs of immortality they'd found at Samantha's villa. A shiver ran down his spine.

"This isn't the sample we brought back from M State, is it?" With a sheepish grin, Brian chimed in, a chilling sensation creeping up his spine as he nudged Brody, "What the heck is this stuff?" Brody, with a grim smile, blurted out, "You're toast! Vivienne's going to kill you!" Brian's eyes widened in horror as Brody accused, "It's all his fault! Ms. Hawthorn, he was the one pesteringfor help with sscam, and he's the one who broke the potion!" Brian's mind raced. Known as the sharpest tool in the Emerald Mountain shed, he retorted, “Vivienne, don't listen to his nonsense! You know me. How could I possibly wreak havoc in your lab? It was just a joke, but he took it seriously." He blinked innocently, trying to play the fool.

"Who knew Brody here was so gullible? Sorry, Vivienne, but you can blme. I didn't realize the stuff Brody left at the corner of the table was important." Percival coughed awkwardly, wondering just how 'normal' the teaching standards were at Emerald Mountain. Anna cringed, "My eyes, my eyes! How are Vivienne's protégés so... outlandish?" Leopold pulled out his phone, faithfully documenting the entire debacle.

Trying not to tip anyone off, he turned the color of a ripe plum, his shoulders shaking as he typed out a message to his fellow apprentices' group chat.

[Leopold sure knows his way around .]

Recently, Brian had graduated from an outer disciple to a fully-fleage one, becoming Viviennes tenth N apprentice Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

No sooner had Leopold sent the message than he shut off his phone, phone, rubbing his swollen cheeks and trying to keep a straight face. But he couldn't help it; a snort of laughter escaped him. His colleagues at the lab were gobsmacked. Was this really happening? No way! Vivienne pursed her lips, her hands balling into fists then relaxing.

Then tensing up again.

She couldn't hit him. This was her junior, after all.

Even if he was utterly revolting, she had to win him over with kindness, not force! Damn it!

She couldn't hold back! She had salvage just worked so hard to little from the ruins, and now, before she could even begin her research, it was all surrendered back to Mother Earth! All thanks to these two numskulls, who seemed to exist solely to make her life difficult!