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!

the road ahead, completely oblivious to the black car

corner, two figures vanished swiftly into

booth, they headed straight for

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

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

messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

her eyes, Percival was already gone from

message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out of bed and

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,

everyone, find

dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society, search every

afford

Vivienne grabbed her gear

the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not

text that came was chilling enough, [Next

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

[Who dares to hurt

The Ellington family.

hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him

as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate

sigh of relief, "You scared me half to

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 you

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

still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't

having grown up with Wendy,

down by her, the naturally timid Huxley