The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 1

On a July evening, around seven o’clock when the sky was still not completely dark.

On Emerald Mountain, Vivienne was standing in front of a nameless grave, dressed in black casual clothes with a cold expression. She said to the tombstone, “Mother, tomorrow marks the end of our ten–year pact. You asked me to temper my edge for a decade, and I’ve done it. Tomorrow, I’m going back to the Hawthorn family.”

It was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard. Suddenly, a loud “bang” made Vivienne turn her head. There was a black car not too far away, skewed to the side. Obviously, a tire had blown.

A man stepped out of the car, dressed in black sportswear, staggering forward as if he was injured. Then, about a dozen men followed him, all dressed in black.

Percival turned his head and looked back. His face bore a layer of coldness, and he clutched his abdomen with one hand, his lips turning pale.

“Just give up. We’ve paid such a high price. You can’t escape, the men in black closed in on Percival. The leader of the group had an expressionless face, emanating a strong aura of menace.

“You think you can catch me?” Percival narrowed his eyes, his voice icy. He felt a sharp pain in his stomach, like a knife cutting into him. He could feel his blood draining out and knew he couldn’t hold on much longer.

“Let’s see about that,” after the leader of the men in black spoke, he launched an attack towards Percival

Just then, a stone came flying and hit the man in black, who immediately fell to his knees.

there?” The man in

“You’re disturbing my mother’s rest. Can

people before him were international assassins, each one a formidable force. Yet they had been defeated by a young girl with a single stone. This girl was

own business in the next life.” The man in black ordered,

yelled seeing the men rush at Vivienne. But he was immediately stunned. He saw that the dozen or so assassins didn’t even have

same spot, her face emotionless, not even blinking. If it weren’t for the sight of her hand not yet withdrawn, Percival would

lost.” Vivienne’s voice

slightly lifting her hand and scattering some sort of powder, then they all fell. They hadn’t even touched a single finger of the girl. While waiting for Vivienne’s response, the men in black all passed out. Vivienne glanced at them and then looked at Percival not too far a away. His heartbeat quickened as he saw her clear eyes, as clear as the moon. Collecting his thoughts,

turned back, frowned, and then left. Suddenly, a gust of wind picked up around her. Vivienne stopped and looked at the tombstone, “You want me to save him?”

a big deal, She took out a small

healing medicine on the black market. One pill was worth fifty dollars and was

pill, Vivienne didn’t stay

the Hawthorn Mansion

our family.” An angry voice echoed, heard throughout the mansion.

in front of her. Her gazes

already gotten the news and called them to the Hawthorn Mansion. As soon as they entered, Beatrice made it clear that she didn’t agree with

back his emotions. After ten years, he finally found his daughter. He was overjoyed but never expected that