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 the

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

we need to know who's behind

messages sent, Vivienne turned off

The next day.

Percival was already

a message from Matthew popped up immediately, [At seven sharp

"What happened?"

out

in contact with Donald last night, but this morning, there's been no response to calls or texts. We've heard from the people

"Alert everyone,

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

couldn't afford

her

out of the apartment, her phone vibrated. She checked it swiftly, not Matthew, not

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

bomb-instead of gunpowder, the glass vials were filled with an unknown green liquid. The sender

fury as she replied, [Who

The Ellington family.

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

in the morning, as Huxley was sneaking out like always, a delicate voice suddenly

relief, "You

what it felt like to be locked up by that maniac Vivienne? What have

"What's the rush? I'm waiting for the right moment. When it comes, you'll have

huffed, "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 drag me down with you, or I won't be

having grown up with Wendy, always had

being stared down by her, the naturally timid Huxley felt a chill at his core and involuntarily stepped back. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the

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