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.

passing the Rivenwood toll booth, they

Vivienne had just finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read, [Donald is

[Keep on her tail; we need

few terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

eyes, Percival was already

a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven

"What happened?"

Vivienne got out

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

ordered, "Alert everyone,

dialed Draven, "Issue the Order of Nine Mystics Society,

couldn't afford

Vivienne grabbed her

apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not

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

with the latest model of a time bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were

fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt

The Ellington family.

down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him to proceed

as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate

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

arms crossed, stepped forward, "I should be asking you that. Have 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

for the right moment.

still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't drag me down with you, or

presence, Mara, having grown up with Wendy, always

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

"What are you thinking?