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!

dark with malice, focused on the road

unseen corner, two figures

booth, they headed

ready for bed. His message read, [Donald

replied, [Keep on her tail; we need to

a few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival was already

Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of

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

"Alert everyone, find Donald-dead or

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

afford to

her gear and headed

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

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

of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender even had the audacity to include the address of the

replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will pay

The Ellington family.

he hadn't 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 next

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

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

up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to these days, sneaking around? Didn't you say you were going

the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it comes,

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

having grown up with Wendy, always had

Huxley felt a chill at his core