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

unseen corner, two figures

Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for

was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is on it; the target

[Keep on her tail; we need to know who's

a few terse messages sent, Vivienne

The next day.

Vivienne opened her eyes, Percival was

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

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out

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, but

ordered, "Alert everyone, find

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

afford to

Vivienne grabbed her gear

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

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

was a picture of Donald tied to a post, strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender

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

The Ellington family.

had finally regained his freedom after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as

like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst forth, startling

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

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 the Ellington family? There's

rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it comes, you'll have your

remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left,

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

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