The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Just two steps out the door, and Percival’s deep voice halted him. “Come back.”

Thomas froze mid-stride, protesting, “Percival, if we don’t chase her down now, it’ll be too late. We can’t let Samantha get away again.”

Percival helped Vivienne to her feet, casting a dismissive glance at Thomas. “We’re withdrawing!”

“But…”

Before Thomas could finish, Percival shot him a look that silenced him immediately.

Thomas couldn’t understand why! With so many of them against one, couldn’t they snatch Samantha from that person’s grasp?

Leopold was just as baffled, but he could sense the strength in their adversary. Maybe Percival’s reluctance to pursue was because their lives were more valuable than capturing one Samantha.

The Nine Mystics Society didn’t take orders from Percival.

Draven, looking toward Vivienne, inquired, “Young Master, shall we withdraw?”

Vivienne pulled two life-saving pills from her pocket, handing one to Percival and swallowing the other herself.

After ingesting her pill, she instructed Draven, “Everyone withdraw. Starting today, the Nine Mystics Society is on lockdown. No one leaves. Prepare our defenses.”

Her words left Thomas and Leopold in a fog.

Samantha had escaped, and rather than chasing her down, they were ordered to prepare the Nine Mystics Society for defense.

What did this mean?

Draven, long accustomed to Vivienne’s commands, understood her immediately, and with a grave expression, he confirmed, “Understood, Young Master. I’ll initiate Level 2 Defense immediately.”

Thomas and Leopold were utterly confused.

Level 2 Defense? What was that? Was there a fight brewing?

The apprentices from Emerald Mountain didn’t question it; they trusted that Vivienne had her reasons.

Draven led the Nine Mystics Society members away without another word.

passed on the order for the Nightfall

Emerald Mountain apprentices

Percival, Thomas, and

her. This was the new and improved version she had recently developed,

turned to Percival with a smirk. “Mr. Wolf, we’ve

his stern face showing no sign of anger over Samantha’s escape, and he smiled. “Indeed, we have. Let’s head back and grab a bite

this running around

Vivienne and

and Leopold exchanged

Vivienne glanced back with a soft sigh, “Such a beautiful house, what

the miniature bomb she’d

grabbed her and

and Leopold were a step behind but still dashed away

“Boom!”

loud explosion and a burst of flames erupted behind them, reducing the top-level secured villa to rubble

found refuge within the Ellington

who, after medicating her, allowed

ended up at the

them entry, but with just a word from

Huxley, who had passed out

things because I was threatened. My sister-in-law has already punished me. She’s medicated me, and from now on, I’ll listen

everywhere, and Cecilia felt a

stupid

to her legs. “Auntie, my mother was killed by F-Poison, and the Boyd family is no more. Everything I did was

had acted like this earlier, without causing trouble for

pity for Mara, orphaned so young, but

up. From now on, work diligently for Vivienne

housing Mara and her brother, Cecilia wouldn’t

nodded quickly.

to Huxley and confirmed he was

brother with an unmistakable devotion. When the notorious F-Poison kidnapped him, she had thrown herself into

Cecilia left, it wasn’t long

momentarily dazed before his voice,

sight of him waking sent a wave of relief through Mara, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she pulled him into