The Million-Dollar Heart

At this very moment, even a brief second of tranquility was more than Ramona could bear.

She had been rattled to her core by the surveillance footage, tears streaming down her face as she screamed, "This is it! I've said all I can say! Please, please let me go! I haven't even started anything! It wasn't me who messed with your mom; it was all the Grimshaws. I was cornered. I was truly forced!"

Vivienne settled back on the couch, her gaze drifting lightly over Ramona. It was unclear whether she believed her or not. She crossed her legs and said nothing.

Percival had been silent since the beginning, his eyes only on Vivienne, not deviating in the slightest, playing the role of the devoted husband to perfection. Ramona's eyes flickered swiftly.

It seemed like a flash of resentment passed through them.

But it was so quick no one saw.

"Ma'am." Anna stood by her, Ramona's tireless voice echoing in her ears.

She turned a deaf ear, simply waiting for Vivienne's command.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed before Vivienne finally spoke indifferently, "Let her go."

The evening wind sliced across Ramona's face like a blade.

She sped along the freeway, scenes from the night's confrontation with Vivienne racing through her mind.

Her heart burned with fury!

If it weren't for the mission, if her meridians hadn't been altered, preventing her from using force!

She would've twisted Vivienne's head off herself!

were dark with malice, focused on the road ahead, completely oblivious to the black car

figures vanished swiftly into the

booth, they headed straight for the

came through, Vivienne had just finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is on

[Keep on her tail; we need to

messages sent, Vivienne turned

The next day.

Percival was already

message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At

"What happened?"

out of bed

contact with Donald last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching Ramona's

everyone, find Donald-dead or

the Order of Nine Mystics Society,

afford

her gear and headed

apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not Matthew,

chilling enough, [Next time, I won't go easy

of Donald tied to a post, strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender even had the audacity to include the address of

fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt

The Ellington family.

regained his freedom after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if

was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly

Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to death. What are you doing

Have you forgotten what it felt like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to these days,

replied, "What's the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it comes,

If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't drag me down with you, or I won't

terms of presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had the

naturally timid Huxley felt