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!

malice, focused on the road ahead, completely

corner, two figures vanished

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for the

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 Estates, still in

her tail; we need to know who's

sent,

The next day.

Percival was already gone from

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

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of

"I was in contact with Donald last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from

everyone, find Donald-dead or

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

afford

grabbed her gear and headed

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

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

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

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

The Ellington family.

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

out like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst forth, startling

turned to see Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to death. What

forward, "I should be asking you that. Have you forgotten what it felt like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to these days,

the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it

this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of

Mara, having grown up with

being stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley