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 headed straight for

for bed. His message read, [Donald

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

terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

Percival was already gone from her

popped up immediately, [At seven sharp this morning, we lost contact with Donald,

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out of bed

was in contact with Donald last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people watching Ramona's place that she's back from the suburbs, but there's still

"Alert everyone,

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

couldn't afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her

out of the apartment, her phone vibrated. She

text that came was chilling enough, [Next

a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender even had the audacity

as she replied, [Who dares to hurt mine will pay with their

The Ellington family.

long. Messages from the other side came daily, as

as Huxley was sneaking out like always,

Mara and breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me

you forgotten what it felt like 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 Ellington family? There's been

the right moment.

this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't

having grown up with Wendy, always had the upper hand over

at his core and involuntarily stepped

"What are you