The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 451

Anna knew that Vivienne wanted her to neutralize the poison.

It was a test that came out of nowhere.

After Vivienne dropped that bombshell, she sat at the corner café, idly scrolling on her smartphone.

Anna's lips had turned a ghostly shade of white, her skin sprouting angry red welts, her breathing shallow and fast.

Within two minutes, Anna's limbs began to spasm, the skin on her arms peeling away to reveal festering sores.

The speed of it all was something Anna had not anticipated. She had thought she would have at least an hour. But it happened so rapidly!

Vivienne, seeing Anna's plight, was not surprised.

To keep the poison at bay for two minutes was an achievement in itself.

There were not many who could do that.

Vivienne handed Anna her half-finished latte.

As Anna drank it, the corrosive sores miraculously began to heal before their eyes, the hives receded, the spasms ceased, and color returned to Anna's lips.

Anna took a deep breath, relief washing over her.

For a split second, she had thought she was a goner.

"This poison's more vicious than GTO's," Anna said gravely.

Vivienne finally put away her phone. "GTO's child's play. Keep pushing."

Anna nodded, her gaze flickering past Vivienne, catching a swift shadow that disappeared as quickly as it emerged.

Vivienne's smile deepened. "Perhaps we should head back to the lab."

Anna was thinking the same. She clutched the latte - her lifeline.

She wanted to use the lab's equipment to dissect the concoction that had nearly claimed her life.

In the mall's underground parking lot.

Rex slid into his car, ignited the engine with the ferocity of a storm, and sped toward the lab.

Vivienne had neutralized his poison!

How was that possible? Only that damned Specter Healer was supposed to have that ability.

Now there was Vivienne too!

Could she be the elusive Specter Healer?

Impossible!

Was Specter Healer supposed to be this attractive?

Rex shook his head in disbelief.

It could not be this slip of a girl. There had to be a mistake.

Muttering curses, he floored the pedal and raced back to the lab.

Specter Healer or not, he had to flee.

But before he ran, he needed all the data on the potion. To him, it was a Pandora's Box filled with endless possibilities. He had never seen anything quite like it. He vowed to use all his knowledge to replicate it, to make it even more potent.

With it, he would defeat the Specter Healer.

And that Boar Poison!

He would create a toxin a hundred times stronger!

He would make the Specter Healer kneel before him!

Excited by the thought, Rex sped into the lab.

Donning his white coat, he entered with his usual genteel charm.

He collected the potion and all related materials methodically.

The others were engrossed in their work, oblivious to the impending theft.

This played right into Rex's hands.

Once everything was packed, a triumphant smile crossed his face.

Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching.

Whirling around, he saw a portly man with a genuine smile twirling a lasso in greeting.

"Hi, long time no see, my little peach!"

"Damn it!"

Rex cursed and bolted.

But the portly man, Brian, moved with surprising agility, his lasso striking Rex's legs with precision.

Rex's legs buckled, and he crashed to the ground, yet he managed to protect the potion in his pocket.

"Brian, you relentless bastard!" Rex spat through gritted teeth.

Brian casually rubbed his nose while his lasso kept moving. "Brody, you're still my cash cow. Hurry up, and let me catch you. Run again later. Just let me secure the bag first."

"Go to hell!"

Rex was Brody, in disguise, infiltrating the YQ lab!

Potion in hand, he ran for his life.

Brian was relentless, alternating between lashing his lasso and hurling knives.

The lab echoed with the sounds of pursuit.

"Stop running!"

"Stopping would be idiotic!"

"Halt!"

"Chase me again and see if I don't poison you!"

The clatter of lab equipment crashing to the floor was interspersed with their shouts.

The lab staff had to halt their work, with Holden lamenting the chaos, "Oh, take it easy, that machine's worth a cool 30 million dollars! Be careful, that's my completed reagent, oh my god, my research!" But a mere lab brawl would not resolve the deep-seated feud between Brody and Brian.

Anna listened to the cacophony outside the lab and asked, "Ms. Vivienne, is everything good?"

Vivienne massaged her temples, "We're fine!"

With that, she kicked open the lab door and grabbed Brian, who was mid-whip.

Caught off guard, Brian cursed, "Who the hell is stealing my payday!"

He turned to see Vivienne's icy glare and shuddered.

Then, his anger melted into a placid smile. "Give me two more minutes, Vivienne, and I'll bag him!"

Vivienne kicked Brian aside, pointing to where Brody lay defeated.

Brian, all smiles again, swiftly tied up Brody.

Brody, limp and unable to resist, was now at Brian's mercy.

"I swear, I felt like I was running through molasses out there. Turns out you'd already poisoned me!" Brody spat out the words, glaring at Vivienne with a mix of anger and grudging respect.

It was now crystal clear to him: Vivienne was none other than the infamous Specter Healer.

Only the Specter Healer could administer poison so stealthily, forcing him to spend a grueling half hour concocting the antidote.

Vivienne rolled her eyes with a bored expression. "Idiot."

She had slipped the poison into Brody's body while they stood shoulder to shoulder, analyzing the molecular breakdown of the potion on the holographic display.

Ever since their last encounter with Rex, Vivienne had been pondering what kind of mastermind could possess such an intellect. She knew every big brain in medicine, yet this one had eluded her recognition. Initially, it was mere suspicion.

But when Rex had left Leopold eating his dust, attempting to poison her that same night, her suspicions solidified into certainty.

Rex was her old acquaintance, Brody.

After all the time spent searching for him, he had walked right into her trap.

Why not savor the moment, then?

She had been biding her time, curious to see what other tricks Brody had up his sleeve.

He did not disappoint, delivering the potion's breakdown right on cue.

If Brody had kept to himself, diligently working on potion research in his lab, she might never have called in Brian.

But Brody, ever the meddler, could not resist the urge to dabble in his old habits and poison Anna.

There was no other choice but to let Brian deal with him.