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 ahead, completely oblivious to the black

two figures vanished swiftly into the

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they

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

we need to know who's behind

a few terse messages sent,

The next day.

Percival was already

her phone, and a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out of bed

response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching Ramona's place that she's back from the suburbs, but there's still no word from

everyone, find

Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics

afford

her gear

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

text that came was chilling enough,

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 the audacity to include the address of

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

The Ellington family.

for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain

morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate

"You scared me

up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been

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

you're planning, just remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of

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

stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt