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!

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

an unseen corner, two figures vanished swiftly

toll booth,

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

on her tail; we need

sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

Percival was already gone

immediately, [At

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of

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,

everyone, find Donald-dead

of Nine Mystics Society, search

afford to

Vivienne grabbed her gear

the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly,

enough, [Next time, I won't

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 audacity to include

pupils shrank with fury as she replied, [Who dares

The Ellington family.

had finally regained his 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

in the morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst forth, startling

relief, "You scared me half to death.

up by that maniac 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

replied, "What's the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When

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

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

down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill