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.

the Rivenwood toll booth, they

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

her tail; we need to know

terse messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

opened her eyes, Percival

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

"What happened?"

hesitation, Vivienne got out

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

everyone, find

Order of Nine Mystics

couldn't afford to

Vivienne grabbed her gear

out of the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked

text that came was chilling enough, [Next time,

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

pupils shrank with fury as she replied, [Who dares to hurt

The Ellington family.

regained his freedom after that interrogation. But he hadn't kept his head down for long. Messages from the other side came daily, as if certain he posed no threat, urging him to proceed with the next step.

was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly burst forth,

a sigh of relief, "You scared me half to

Vivienne? What have you been up to these

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

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

presence, Mara, having grown up with

at his core and involuntarily stepped back.

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