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!

focused on the road ahead, completely oblivious to the black

unseen corner, two figures

Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for

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

her tail; we need to know

messages sent, Vivienne turned

The next day.

her eyes, Percival was already gone

immediately, [At seven sharp this

"What happened?"

out of bed and

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 Donald-dead

Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the suburbs. We

couldn't afford

Vivienne grabbed her gear and

of the apartment, her phone

enough, [Next time, I won't

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

with fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt

The Ellington family.

freedom after 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 threat, urging him to proceed with

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

"You scared me

be asking you that. Have you forgotten what it felt like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up

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

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

having grown up with Wendy, always had the

down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill