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.

the order for the Nightfall Assembly to retreat

Mountain apprentices

only Vivienne, Percival, Thomas, and

and improved version she had recently developed, with the

with a smirk. “Mr. Wolf,

escape, and he smiled. “Indeed, we have. Let’s head

around has

and Percival

and Leopold exchanged looks

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

the miniature bomb she’d acquired from

anticipating her move, grabbed

and Leopold were a step behind but still dashed away

“Boom!”

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

found refuge within the

had uses for Vivienne, who, after medicating her, allowed her to reside with

also ended up

aware of Mara’s past deeds and would have refused them entry, but with just a word from Vivienne, she

and seeing Huxley, who had passed out upon arrival and was still bedridden, collapsed at Cecilia’s

only did those things because I was threatened. My sister-in-law has already punished me. She’s medicated me, and from now on, I’ll listen to whatever she says and turn over a new

everywhere, and Cecilia felt

her niece stupid

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

acted like this earlier, without causing trouble for Vivienne or indulging in crooked schemes,

feel pity for Mara, orphaned so young, but now

work diligently for Vivienne and drop those crooked

Mara and her brother, Cecilia wouldn’t

nodded quickly. “I

attended to Huxley and

to her brother with an unmistakable devotion. When the notorious F-Poison kidnapped him, she had thrown herself into the lion’s den without a second

left, it wasn’t long before Huxley stirred back to

he seemed momentarily dazed before his

through Mara, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she pulled him into