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!

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

figures vanished swiftly

booth, they

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 know who's

messages sent, Vivienne

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival was

Matthew popped up immediately,

"What happened?"

out of bed

no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching Ramona's place that she's back from the suburbs, but

ordered, "Alert everyone, find Donald-dead

Order of Nine Mystics Society, search every

couldn't afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her gear and

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

came was chilling enough,

strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder,

pupils shrank with fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine

The Ellington family.

other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him to proceed with the next step.

as Huxley was sneaking out like

"You scared me half to death. What are you

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 were going to take over

for the right moment. When it comes, you'll have your chance to

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

Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had the upper

being stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill at his core and involuntarily