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!

were dark with malice, focused on the road

an unseen corner, two figures vanished

Rivenwood toll booth, they

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

replied, [Keep on her tail; we need

terse messages sent,

The next day.

Vivienne opened her eyes, Percival

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

"What happened?"

out

there's been no response to calls or texts.

ordered, "Alert everyone, find

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

couldn't afford to

grabbed her

as she stepped out of the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not Matthew,

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

a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were

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

The Ellington family.

after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other

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

Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to death. What are you

stepped forward, "I should be asking you that. Have 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 family?

right moment. When it comes, you'll have your chance to

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, or I won't be

grown up with Wendy, always had the upper

by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt