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!

on the road ahead, completely oblivious

corner, two figures vanished swiftly

toll booth,

nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald

her tail; we need to know who's

a few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

Percival was already gone from

Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost

"What happened?"

got out of bed and

been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching Ramona's place

"Alert everyone, find Donald-dead or

Order of Nine Mystics Society,

couldn't afford to

Vivienne grabbed her gear

as she stepped out of the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked

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

picture of Donald tied to a post, strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials

as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will pay

The Ellington family.

freedom after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him to proceed with the

as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst

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

Vivienne? What have you been up to these days, sneaking around? Didn't you say you were going to take over the Ellington family?

I'm waiting for the right

huffed, "I don't care what you're planning, just remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred

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

being stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill at his core and involuntarily stepped