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!

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

unseen corner, two figures vanished swiftly into the

the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for the

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

replied, [Keep on her tail; we need to

sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival was already gone

message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this

"What happened?"

out of bed

but this morning, there's been no response to calls or

ordered, "Alert everyone,

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

afford

her gear and headed

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

was chilling enough, [Next time, I won't

to a post, strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials

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

The Ellington family.

freedom after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat,

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

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

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 the Ellington

right moment.

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

stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a