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Astrid fidgeted nervously beside Vivienne, apparently still wracked with guilt over the previous day’s
events.
Vivienne, unfazed, glanced at Astrid with eyes as soft as a strawberry cheesecake and stood up.
Astrid halted her with a call, “Vivienne.”
Vivienne’s lips curved into a smile, her bright eyes flashing with disinterest. “What is it?”
Astrid rose and approached her, lifting her shirt.
On her slender waist was a hideous black scar.
A knife wound, poisoned.
Astrid clenched her fist. “I got this on a mission when I fell into the enemy’s trap. Now, I still suffer from
the pain, especially when it rains, my whole body aches.
Vivienne, I’m not trying to gain your sympathy. I just want to tell you that we’ve sacrificed our lives to
ensure that our organization can develop a defense against the biochemical weapons of rival nations.
So, on behalf of the organization and our country, I’m inviting you to join our fight!”
Vivienne’s gaze fell on the scar on Astrid’s waist.
It was clearly real.
She grasped Astrid’s wrist and felt for her pulse.
The poison had been lurking in her body for years; she, indeed, had suffered greatly.
Vivienne casually took out a life-saving pill and popped it into Astrid’s mouth. “This poison isn’t hard to
cure. Just come to me once a day.”
After a pause, she added, “I’m quite interested in what you’ve said. I’ll give it a try.”
Astrid froze, surprised. “You mean you agree?”
Vivienne nodded slightly. “Yeah, but I’m out if your experiments don’t meet my standards.”
“Great. You’ll find our experiments fascinating,” Astrid said with a smile. “I’ll notify the organization and
see when they can take you to the lab.”
With that, Astrid went into her room.
Looking at her door, Vivienne let a sly smile creep onto her face.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe pulled out her phone and texted Percival, [How’s it going?]
[Came up empty. You?]
[Hook, line, and sinker.]
Percival could almost see Vivienne’s cunning expression from those words – like a smug little fox.
…
In the house of the Ellington family’s second branch.
“Jeffrey, don’t move. The doctor said you can’t get out of bed yet,” Heloise said, her heart aching for
her son.
Percival’s strength was beyond their imagination. A mere toss had broken Jeffrey’s bones.
If it were not for the timely hospital visit, he might have lost his life.
Jeffrey limped to the couch. “I’m going stir-crazy lying in bed.”
Besides, lying there was useless; he was in agony. It was better to move a little.
Jeffrey waved her off impatiently. “Never mind me. What about Fiona? Why was she kicked out?”
At the mention, Heloise bristled with anger. “What else? It was that wench Vivienne’s doing. Percival
isn’t any better. No matter what, Fiona was good to him. How could he just throw her out of the
company?”
“I told you, I should have joined the company instead of letting Fiona hog the spotlight. Now look what’s
happened. What are we supposed to do now? Wait to starve?” Jeffrey fumed.
Henry sat nearby, equally furious, shouting upstairs to Fiona’s room, “Fiona, what are you doing hiding
all day? Think you can get back into the company that way? Come out and figure out how to ask your
grandpa to reinstate you!”
Fiona was the mainstay of the Ellington family’s second branch, with half their savings coming from her
commissions at the company.
Now that she was out, they had lost a significant source of income.
Fiona sat in her room, ignoring her parents’ and Jeffrey’s complaints below. She put on headphones,
locked the door, and tuned them out.
Being ousted from the company was not her most pressing concern. It was her clandestine dealings
that weighed on her mind.
Her business was not just in the art galleries; she also needed the Ellington Group’s resources and
connections, even using their transportation to make her trades.
This was her livelihood, her foundation.
Moreover, she had signed agreements. If she failed to deliver as promised, it could cost her her life.
Fiona dialed an unknown number on her phone. “How’s it going?”
“They’re still in our hands, being moved as you instructed.”
“Good. Keep a close eye. I’ll find a way to get her out.”
Ending the call, Fiona rubbed her fingertips, her usually cool face fading to gloom.
Then, an unfamiliar number called.
After hesitating, she answered, “Who’s this?”
A woman’s voice replied, “Ms., I’m Calista.”
Fiona paused.
Calista?
They were not close, but Fiona had heard of Calista in their circles.
The once-proclaimed prodigy of traditional medicine, the cheap daughter of the former Brooks family
patriarch.
Since Scott’s arrest, Calista had also become reclusive. Why was she calling now?
“What can I do for you?” Fiona asked, her voice smooth, the earlier darkness gone.
Calista’s cheerful voice came through. “Got time for a coffee?”
“Sure, see you soon.”
…
Elsewhere.
After taking Dorian’s family to a therapist, Percival picked up Vivienne.
They dropped Dorian and his family back home.
On the way, Percival said to Vivienne, “The doc said it’s all good. Thaddeus has grown up, and he
won’t have nightmares anymore.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThaddeus nodded vigorously, looking at Vivienne with pride. “Yeah, Sis, Leo said that what I went
through is just one of those life experiences. It’ll be a cool story to share over beers someday. I’m not
scared at all now.”
Vivienne ruffled Thaddeus’s hair, praising him, “That’s my brave boy.”
But who the heck was Leo?Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books
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She glanced at Percival, who just shrugged his shoulders.
Who else could it be?
It was Leopold, of course!
All along the way, Leopold had been chatting with Thaddeus like they were about to become blood
brothers.
Leopold insisted on not being called ‘brother’ but ‘Leo’ – it sounded much cooler.
Leopold said earlier, “Isn’t it much cooler?”
Vivienne sighed. “Mom, Dad, you don’t have to go to the office today. Just rest up. I’ve also arranged
for Thaddeus to have the day off school.”
Dorian nodded, still a bit shaken from the previous day’s events and not in the mood for the office
grind.
Then, with a hint of worry, he asked, “What about you, Vivienne?”
“Vivienne’s in good hands with me around,” Percival said softly, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Dorian had no more to say; with Percival by her side, he truly felt reassured.
After dropping Dorian and the others off at home, Percival and Vivienne, who had matters to attend to,
took their leave.
As soon as they left, Astrid’s bedroom door cracked open slightly.
Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and answered.
Whatever was said on the other end, Astrid replied, “Yeah, agreed. I’ll start prepping. I’ll bring her over
tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
Astrid hung up the phone, her eyes shrouded in mystery.
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