The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne took a deep breath, realizing there was no way she could neutralize the poison coursing through her veins. She turned to look at Zelda, relieved to see her aunt unharmed and conscious. Zelda's eyes, large and watery, were fixed on Vivienne, filled with concern.

"Vivienne, are you okay? Does your head hurt? Feeling dizzy?" Zelda asked quickly, her voice tinged with guilt.

Vivienne shook her head, only to feel the room spin even more. "I'm fine, Auntie. Are you hurt?"

"I'm not," Zelda replied, her voice heavy with worry, then her gaze shifted to Diana. "Diana, you double-crossing snake, how could you collaborate with GTO? You know full well that's Dad's Achilles heel!" "So what?" Diana stepped forward, her face twisted with resentment as she slapped Zelda hard across the cheek.

"Who do you think you are to tell me what to do, Zelda?"

Diana then grabbed Zelda by the throat. "Do you have any idea how much I've loathed you since you married into the Perez family? The only ones who ever dared to cross me were you and that smug Maddox. I've wanted you out of the Perez family for ages!"

Zelda could not speak, but her defiant gaze never wavered.

That defiance only fueled Diana's spite. "Oh, so you like playing the doting auntie to Vivienne, huh? Well, watch closely as I show you just how she's going to die!"

Vivienne turned to Diana. "Die? You really think you've got the chops for that?"

Diana's hatred for Vivienne boiled over. She clenched her fist and punched Vivienne in the stomach with the force that could take down a mastiff.

Vivienne coughed up blood, but her eyes remained icy as she stared at Diana.

"You're destined to live in my mother's shadow, Diana. You were the one who got her taken away, and you'll spend your life atoning for it!"

landed even harder, nearly knocking

time since Vivienne had felt such physical pain, and

up, Vivienne. I got rid

"What are you saying?

this slow on the uptake? I thought you'd have figured it out

a soft spot for

she were on a picnic. "I bet you're dying to know

faced off with Sasha, I knocked her out, just like I did with you. I watched F-Poison take her away. Before they left, I hit her wound viciously, blood staining my favorite dress. A pity no one wondered why my dress was

stared at Diana, her body

hand, found the strength to lash out at Diana with every curse

was to you? She adored you, and this is how

to shine! Zelda, you were pampered as the Lynette family's darling, Yuri's childhood sweetheart. What could you possibly understand? You and your caged canary life, how could you know my

by Jasper, yet

will be your precious daughters. I'll drive each one out of the Perez family. Remember

back. "Diana, Natalia and Yasmine are just kids; what are you planning? You heartless

wine glass against Zelda's head, wishing she could mar

spoke. "Ms. Perez, why such fury? She's still of use

ranks through her and forge connections with the Perez family, it would be like fitting the last piece into a jigsaw puzzle. By then, Vivienne would