The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 268

Vivienne's pale fingers lightly tapped the table as she placed a bottle of rare boar poison in front of her. With an indifferent tone, she asked, "What about the cobra grass?"

"Of course, I brought it." The woman's scarlet lips curved into a seductive smile. From a vintage bag resting on the nearby couch, she reached in and pulled out a red box. As she lifted the lid, an air-dried, deep purple plant was revealed.

Vivienne's calm gaze landed on the cobra grass, but she made no move to pick it up.

The woman's eyes swept over Vivienne's golden mask, showing a hint of surprise. Boar poison was rare, but cobra grass was even rarer. She had thought Vivienne, who was so desperate for the cobra grass, would be impatient.

"It's yours now." She grinned generously and pushed the red box towards Vivienne.

Vivienne then picked up the cobra grass to inspect it before tossing the bottle of boar poison at the woman.

Caught off guard, the woman scrambled to catch it. Annoyed, she challenged Vivienne. "My cobra grass is definitely authentic. Are you sure your boar poison isn't fake?"

"Do you want me to test it on you?" Vivienne lifted her eyes as her icy gaze landed on the woman.

The woman froze; she was deeply intimidated by Vivienne's stare. It seemed as if Vivienne would not hesitate to use the poison on her if she said another word.

After confirming that the cobra grass was genuine, Vivienne didn't return it to the box. Instead, she placed it in a prepared plastic bag, wrapped it carefully in cotton, and put it into her bosom. Then she tossed the red box towards the woman's silver mask.

"You... you're so rude!" The woman was taken aback. She couldn't understand why she had been repeatedly offended during her first interaction with Vivienne. She attempted to stand up in anger, but suddenly found herself unable to move or speak.

Vivienne stood up and looked at the woman, who was paralyzed and speechless. She said coldly, "Who gave you the audacity to hide a tracker in my stuff?"

The woman's eyes widened in fear.

She was regretting her decision to mess with the Frostfire Intelligence Agency. It was once the largest intelligence organization in Veridia, so Frostfire had all-encompassing influences all over the world. They had no qualms about selling information, as long as the price was right.

But a decade ago, Frostfire suddenly vanished, leaving no trace behind.

Unexpectedly, they had recently regrouped.

After Frostfire's information system was exposed, many people became alarmed. Several of them were willing to pay a high price for information.

Even more disturbing, no one could identify any of Frostfire's members.

This caused many to be wary, including her.

She was rich, but Percival was richer. If she could buy rare boar poison from Frostfire, then Percival might be able to buy evidence from Frostfire of her, Fiona's, betrayal of him and Isolde. Knowing that she was dealing with Frostfire's leader, Fiona had tried to pry into Frostfire's secrets.

"You must think you're clever." Vivienne looked at Fiona with scorn. She had detected the tracker as soon as she walked into the room. When Fiona pulled out the box, she knew something was up. "This time, I'll let you off lightly because of the cobra grass. Next time, you won't be so lucky."

Without another word, she left the room, not even bothering to reveal Fiona's face behind the silver mask.

To the Frostfire Intelligence Agency, most people held no secrets.

Rather than caring about the face behind the silver mask, Vivienne's thoughts had already returned to her research.

Her last study resulted in the creation of an antidote for the poison used by GTO's men. It had been tested on the two assassins who had infiltrated Tranquil Estates in Havenwood. The antidote had effectively reduced their enhanced physical abilities caused by the poison, and they did not die immediately.

But the poison had severely damaged their bodies, and they had died a few days later.

Therefore, she adjusted the antidote's formula and dosage. The cobra grass was crucial to her new formula.

Just as Vivienne walked out of the Spring Pavilion, an attendant was passing by. She stopped her. "Wait."

The attendant stopped immediately, waiting respectfully for Vivienne's instructions.

Inside the Spring Pavilion, Fiona was stiffly seated on the couch, watching the door that Vivienne had closed. Worry filled her mind as she wondered about when she would be able to move again.

She then heard Vivienne's cold voice outside the door, giving instructions to an attendant. "I'm reserving this suite for three days. No one is allowed to enter or clean it during this period." Fiona's eyes widened in shock.

Three days?!

She'd be trapped in this suite, unable to move for three days?! She wouldn't even be able to eat or drink, let alone use the bathroom!

Fiona regretted her actions deeply. She shouldn't have tried to outsmart Vivienne, the leader of the Frostfire Intelligence Agency.

Three days later.

News that the Brooks family was planning a family reunion banquet for Scott's newly found daughter was the talk of the town among the elite families of Rivenwood.

Those who had attended Arabella's reunion banquet found the news puzzling. Hadn't they just hosted one? How could there be another?

Some, aware of the truth, avoided discussing the Brooks family's embarrassing runaround with Arabella. Others assumed they were planning a redo for Arabella. The only ones who knew that Vivienne was Scott's real daughter were a few close families.

Pendleton Hospital.

Calista had just finished a medical check-up on Tristan. As she was about to leave, Tristan stopped her. "Calista, is Vivienne really my foster father's biological daughter?"

"Yes." Calista responded softly. A flicker of discomfort crossed her face at the very mention of Vivienne's name.

Tristan looked dazed. This news was new to him as well.

He had always thought that Arabella was his benefactor's daughter, so he had defended her at all costs. In the process, he had offended Vivienne and Percival, which had led to his current condition of being bedridden and helpless.

And now they were telling him that Vivienne was his benefactor's real daughter?!

He was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, unsure of how to handle this revelation. He had repeatedly shamed, and even intended to harm his benefactor's daughter for an impostor. The shame made him wish the ground would swallow him up.

He couldn't help but feel grateful. Even though he was confined to a hospital bed and unable to return to the Brooks Mansion, he still felt happy to be there. He didn't know how he would face Vivienne otherwise.

He had blamed Percival for his condition, even cursing Percival and Vivienne in his heart. But now, he felt he deserved what had happened to him.

He really deserved to end up like this.