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.

booth, they headed straight for

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

[Keep on her tail; we need to know who's

few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

her eyes, Percival was

phone, and a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost contact with Donald, suspect

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of bed

there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching Ramona's place

everyone, find Donald-dead

hung up quickly, then dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society,

afford to

Vivienne grabbed her gear and

she stepped out of the apartment, her phone

text that came was chilling enough, [Next time, I

latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the

with fury as she replied, [Who

The Ellington family.

the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him to proceed with the next

sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst

breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to

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

right moment. When it comes, you'll have your chance

mercy. If you have even

of presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always had the

his core and involuntarily stepped back. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website

are you thinking? How could