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

an unseen corner, two figures vanished

toll booth, they headed straight

Matthew's message came through, Vivienne had just finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is on it; the target is moving towards Capital Edge

replied, [Keep on her tail; we need to

a few terse messages sent, Vivienne

The next day.

Percival was already gone from her

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

"What happened?"

out of bed and

last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people

"Alert everyone,

Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the suburbs. We must

afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her

phone vibrated. She checked it

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

gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an

she replied, [Who dares to

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

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

to see Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to

locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to these days, sneaking around?

for the right moment. When it comes, you'll

at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't drag me down with

up with Wendy, always had the upper hand

down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill at his core