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!

focused on the road ahead, completely

figures vanished swiftly

the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed

His message read, [Donald is on it; the target

her tail; we need to know who's

few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

eyes, Percival was already gone from her

her phone, and a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost contact with Donald, suspect

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of bed and

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

ordered, "Alert everyone,

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

couldn't afford

grabbed her

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

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

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

shrank with fury as she replied, [Who dares to

The Ellington family.

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,

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

Vivienne? What have you been up to these days, sneaking around? Didn't you say you were going to take over the Ellington family? There's been no

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

have even a shred of sibling love left,

presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always

naturally timid Huxley felt a chill at his core and involuntarily