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

two figures

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for

came through, Vivienne had just finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message

tail; we need to know who's behind

few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

eyes, Percival was already gone from

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

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of

contact with 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 the suburbs, but

"Alert everyone,

hung up quickly, then dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society,

afford

her gear and

out of the apartment, her phone vibrated.

the text that came was chilling enough, [Next time, I won't go easy

to a post, strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown

[Who dares to

The Ellington family.

hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain he

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

see Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me

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

replied, "What's the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it comes, you'll have your

mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love

Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had

timid Huxley felt a chill