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 to the black

an unseen corner, two figures vanished

the Rivenwood toll booth, they

was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is on it; the target is moving towards Capital

her tail; we need to know who's behind

few terse messages sent, Vivienne

The next day.

Percival was already

immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost contact with Donald,

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out of bed and called

been no response to calls

"Alert everyone,

hung up quickly, then dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society, search

couldn't afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her gear and

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

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

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

shrank with fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will

The Ellington family.

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

in the morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always,

Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared

stepped forward, "I should be asking you that. Have you forgotten what it felt like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to these days, sneaking around? Didn't you say

waiting for the right moment. When it comes, you'll have your chance

just remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't drag me

grown up with Wendy,

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