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

corner, two figures vanished swiftly

booth, they headed straight for

had just finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald

on her tail; we need to

sent,

The next day.

Vivienne opened her eyes, Percival was already gone from her

message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost contact with

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of bed

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 no word from

ordered, "Alert everyone, find Donald-dead

of Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the

afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her gear and

her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly,

chilling enough, [Next time, I

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

replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will

The Ellington family.

after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other

the morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate

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

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.

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

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

stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill