The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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!

Ramona's eyes were dark with malice, focused on the road ahead, completely oblivious to the black car tailing her closely.

In an unseen corner, two figures vanished swiftly into the darkness.

toll booth, they

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

we need to

messages sent, Vivienne turned off her

The next day.

eyes, Percival

a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven

"What happened?"

out of

response to calls or texts. We've heard

"Alert everyone, find Donald-dead

Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of

afford

grabbed her gear and headed

as she stepped out of the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not

that came was chilling enough, [Next time, I won't go easy

was a picture of Donald tied to a post, strapped with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials

fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt

The Ellington family.

kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came

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

breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to death. What are you doing up this

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

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

remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even

having grown up with Wendy, always had the upper

and involuntarily stepped back. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels

eyes, Huxley gathered his courage to face Mara, "What are you thinking? How could I possibly