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

two figures vanished

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed

nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is on it; the target is moving towards Capital Edge

on her tail; we need to know who's behind

sent,

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival was already gone from her

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

"What happened?"

out

morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching

ordered, "Alert everyone, find Donald-dead or

"Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the

couldn't afford

grabbed her gear

phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not Matthew,

that came was chilling enough, [Next time, I

model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender even had the audacity to include the address of

replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will pay with their

The Ellington family.

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

Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly

"You scared

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

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

"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

terms of presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had the

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