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!

eyes were dark with malice, focused on the road ahead, completely oblivious

figures vanished swiftly into

toll booth, they headed straight for the

His message read, [Donald is

on her tail; we need to know who's

a few terse messages sent,

The next day.

Vivienne opened her eyes, Percival was already gone from her

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

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of bed

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

everyone, find Donald-dead

Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of

couldn't afford to

Vivienne grabbed her gear

as she stepped out of the apartment, her phone

that came was chilling enough, [Next time,

the threatening words 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

as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine

The Ellington family.

But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came

was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst forth,

"You scared me half to death. What are

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 been no

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

"I don't care 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 me down with you,

grown up with Wendy, always had the

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