The Million-Dollar Heart

She was raising a ruckus, utterly oblivious to the fact that the crowd behind her had suddenly parted like the Red Sea, creating a clear path.

Vivienne, with Leopold at her side, approached leisurely, her voice cool as a cucumber when it finally reached Raquel's ears, "I own this place. Got a problem with that?" The woman's body shook, and she hastily sidestepped. Her beady eyes sized up Vivienne, taking in her stunning beauty, and a flicker of envy passed through her gaze. "Who the heck are you?! You think you can sass me?" Raquel's husband was a small-time entrepreneur, his bread and butter being a trendy nightclub.

The business had finally taken a turn for the better over the years, and they managed to snag a quaint villa in Maple Town. Aside from her card games and shopping sprees, Raquel wasn't known for much. She didn't recognize a single name from the prominent Rivenwood families and, puffing out her chest, was ready to give Vivienne a piece of her mind, "With that foxy look of yours, what are you but some homewrecker? Shouldn't you be hiding at home instead of flaunting yourself around? Absolutely repulsive!"

"What did you say, you ugly bitch? " Leopold exploded at her words, fiercely protective of Vivienne, "Say one more thing about Vivienne, I dare you!"

Raquel might have the guts to sass Vivienne, but she wouldn't dare with Leopold. She was well aware that Leopold was the young master of the Sterling family.

"Look at you, all scared. And you have the nerve to come to my Vivienne's villa and cause trouble?" Leopold glanced at Raquel and casually tossed the two little rascals he was holding at her feet, "These troublemakers, did you send them to the Littletons? So young and always sneaking around, up to no good. Now I see, 'Like aunt, like nephews.' What kind of property management lets such trash move in, spewing garbage all over the place?"

"This... this..." Elwood was at a loss for words.

Seeing her two nephews thrown to the ground, Raquel's face turned green with rage. She raised her hand and lunged at Vivienne, "You wench! I'll kill you!"

"Bring it on!" Leopold had been itching for a fight!

With a swift move, he stepped in front of Vivienne.

He caught Raquel's flailing wrist, twisted her arm with practiced ease, and pinned it behind her back.

Raquel screamed in pain, but Leopold was no gentleman.

lower back and let go of her arm, sending

seeing their chance, scrambled away, afraid that the woman's hefty frame would come crashing down on them and cause

as it swept over Raquel's contorted features,

and advanced a few steps towards Raquel, then crouched in front of her, "These injuries on this young girl, Amelia, and the whip marks on Tyler's back, you had people do

bruises and handprints, her arms covered in chilling purple

through the photos, revealing the back of an adult male-Elwood happened

even

who still

the wounds was raw and turned inside out,

to the Littletons'. For an hour, you subjected Tyler

upon upon reaching the Littletons' temporary villa sent shivers down her

had informed her they were a step too late. By the time their team had arrived, Amelia and Tyler had been cornered in their home, a tall woman lashing

just started to recover, barely able to stand, let

been crying so hard the entire villa echoed

had been any later, Tyler and Amelia might not

I... I didn't! Stop slandering me, I didn't do

was scrambling backward in panic, her eyes darting to the two bodyguards still holding up a banner behind her, "What are you waiting for?! Grab her now! Let me tell you, my husband

Ancient warrior lineage again?

Vivienne's brow furrowed slightly.

late, vixen. Today, I'm going to peel your skin off!