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.

Rivenwood toll booth, they headed straight for

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

[Keep on her tail; we need

messages sent, Vivienne

The next day.

Vivienne opened her eyes, Percival was already gone from

checked her phone, and a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost

"What happened?"

got out of bed and

with Donald last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've

"Alert everyone,

hung up quickly, then dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society, search every nook of Rivenwood, including the

afford

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her

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

enough, [Next time, I

a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown

fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine

The Ellington family.

had finally regained his freedom after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side

morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always,

see Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to death. What

to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have you been up to these days, sneaking around? Didn't you say

right moment.

have even a shred of sibling love

up with Wendy,

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

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