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!

focused on the road ahead, completely oblivious to the

corner, two figures vanished swiftly into the

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for

finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is on it; the target is

replied, [Keep on her tail; we need to

sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

her eyes, Percival was already

her phone, and a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost

"What happened?"

out of bed

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 Ramona's place that she's back from the suburbs,

everyone, find Donald-dead

Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the

afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her gear and

her phone vibrated. She

text that came was chilling enough,

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

with fury as she replied, [Who

The Ellington family.

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 next step. "Stop right

like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst

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

by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to

replied, "What's the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When

what you're planning, just remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't drag

presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had the upper hand over

Huxley felt a chill at his core and involuntarily