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!

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

corner, two figures vanished swiftly into the

toll booth, they

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

her tail; we need to know

sent, Vivienne turned

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival was

immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out of bed and called

bit rushed 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

ordered, "Alert everyone, find

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

couldn't afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her gear and

as she stepped out of the apartment, her phone

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

of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender even had the

as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will pay with

The Ellington family.

from the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him to

like always, a delicate voice

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

what it felt like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you

right moment. When

Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left,

presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always

by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a