The Million-Dollar Heart

Just two steps out the door, and Percival's deep voice halted him. "Come back."

Thomas froze mid-stride, protesting, "Percival, if we don't chase her down now, it'll be too late. We can't let Samantha get away again." Percival helped Vivienne to her feet, casting a dismissive glance at Thomas. "We're withdrawing!"

"But..."

Before Thomas could finish, Percival shot him a look that silenced him immediately.

Thomas couldn't understand why! With so many of them against one, couldn't they snatch Samantha from that person's grasp?

Leopold was just as baffled, but he could sense the strength in their adversary. Maybe Percival's reluctance to pursue was because their lives were more valuable than capturing one Samantha. The Nine Mystics Society didn't take orders from Percival.

Draven, looking toward Vivienne, inquired, "Young Master, shall we withdraw?"

Vivienne pulled two life-saving pills from her pocket, handing one to Percival and swallowing the other herself.

After ingesting her pill, she instructed Draven, "Everyone withdraw. Starting today, the Nine Mystics Society is on lockdown. No one leaves. Prepare our defenses."

Her words left Thomas and Leopold in a fog.

Samantha had escaped, and rather than chasing her down, they were ordered to prepare the Nine Mystics Society for defense.

What did this mean?

Draven, long accustomed to Vivienne's commands, understood her immediately, and with a grave expression, he confirmed, "Understood, Young Master. I'll initiate Level 2 Defense immediately." Thomas and Leopold were utterly confused.

Level 2 Defense? What was that? Was there a fight brewing?

The apprentices from Emerald Mountain didn't question it; they trusted that Vivienne had her reasons.

Draven led the Nine Mystics Society members away without another word.

resignedly passed on the order for the Nightfall

Emerald Mountain

Percival, Thomas,

its magic on Vivienne, rapidly healing her. This was the new and improved version she had recently developed, with the help of research from ST-1, far more effective

turned to Percival with a

of anger over Samantha's escape, and he smiled. "Indeed, we have. Let's head back and

around has made

Vivienne and

exchanged looks before reluctantly

villa, Vivienne glanced back with a soft sigh, "Such a

she casually tossed the miniature bomb she'd acquired from Samantha

her move, grabbed

a step behind but still dashed away at

"Boom!"

explosion and a burst of flames erupted behind them, reducing the top-level secured villa to

Huxley found refuge within the Ellington

after medicating her, allowed her to reside with the

Huxley also ended up at the

deeds and would have refused them entry, but with just a word from Vivienne,

who had passed out upon arrival and was still bedridden, collapsed at Cecilia's feet,

punished me. She's medicated me, and from now on, I'll listen to whatever she says and turn over a new leaf." Tears and snot smeared

stupid or

Mara clung to her legs. "Auntie, my mother was killed by F-Poison, and the Boyd family is no more. Everything I did was for Huxley. Please forgive me." Cecilia, looking down at Mara, thought that if she had acted like this earlier, without causing trouble for Vivienne or indulging in crooked

for Mara, orphaned so young,

diligently for Vivienne and drop those crooked schemes," Cecilia said

insisting on housing Mara and her brother,