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,

Matthew's message came through, Vivienne had just finished her nightly routine and was ready for bed. His message read,

[Keep on her tail; we need

messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

eyes, Percival was already

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

"What happened?"

got out of bed

but composed, "I 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

everyone, find Donald-dead

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

couldn't afford to

dressed, Vivienne grabbed her

of the apartment, her phone

enough, [Next

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

replied, [Who dares to hurt mine

The Ellington family.

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

sneaking out like always,

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

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

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

"I don't care what you're planning, just remember this-I'm still at Vivienne's mercy. If you have even a shred of sibling love left, don't

up with Wendy, always had the upper hand

the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill at his core and involuntarily stepped back.

a moment of flickering eyes, Huxley gathered his courage to face Mara, "What are you thinking? How could I possibly harm