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!

road ahead, completely oblivious to the black

unseen corner, two figures vanished

the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed

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,

her tail; we

a few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival was already gone

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

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out

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

everyone, find

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

couldn't afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her gear

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

the text that came was chilling enough, [Next time,

time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid.

replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will pay

The Ellington family.

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

in the morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice

relief, "You scared me half to death. What are

"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, sneaking around? Didn't you say you were going to take

right moment. When it

mercy. If you have even

with Wendy, always had the upper hand

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