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!

the road ahead, completely oblivious to

figures vanished

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed

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

we

messages sent,

The next day.

Vivienne opened her eyes, Percival was already gone

a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At

"What happened?"

out

composed, "I was in contact with Donald last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard

"Alert everyone, find Donald-dead

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

couldn't afford

grabbed her gear and

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

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

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 even had

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

The Ellington family.

from the other side came

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

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

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? There's been

the right moment. When it

even a shred of sibling love left,

Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had the upper

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