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!

malice, focused on the road ahead, completely oblivious to the black car tailing

figures vanished

Rivenwood toll booth, they headed

for bed. His message read,

[Keep on her tail; we need to know who's behind

few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

her eyes, Percival was already

phone, and a message from Matthew popped up immediately,

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out of bed and called

but composed, "I was in 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 place that she's back from the suburbs, but there's still

"Alert everyone,

quickly, then dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the suburbs. We must find

afford

her gear and headed

her phone vibrated. She checked it

text that came was 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 were filled with an unknown

with fury as she replied, [Who dares to

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

Huxley was sneaking out like always, a

relief, "You scared me half to death. What are you doing up

like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up

"What's the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it comes, you'll have your chance

still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a

grown up with Wendy, always had the upper

timid Huxley felt a chill at his core and