The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Kaitlyn knew all too well that things couldn't be that simple; there must have been someone fanning the flames behind the scenes.

But by then, the Littletons had fallen from grace. Those who once flocked around her family with flattering words were nowhere to be found after her parents' untimely deaths. To seek their help now would be nothing short of a pipe dream.

Yet the persecution from the ancient warrior lineages did not cease.

Tears streamed down Kaitlyn's cheeks as she struggled to catch her breath, coughing twice. "My father-in-law, Julian, ever since someone accused him of taking bribes... It's been one thing after another. Private tutoring, disciplining students too harshly. And now... they're accusing him of... of indecency with a student."

Julian had once been a celebrated teacher at Rivenwood High, but now his reputation was in tatters.

His wife, Sadie, couldn't continue with her job either, taken in for questioning by the school board time and again. Only after the school let them go did the tumult finally begin to subside.

Her parents think it's Julian's fault, so... so they called the cops and had him taken away." Vivienne listened intently to Kaitlyn's account, her brow furrowed

silence, absorbing every word, before finally speaking up, "What's the girl's name? Is she still in

shaky, "Her name is Cassidy. After the incident, I heard her family was

"Havenwood?"

moment before reassuringly smiling, "Don't worry. What's

her cell phone, "Check for a family in Havenwood, daughter named Cassidy,

ending the call, she texted Draven, [Dig into the bribery case involving Julian and Sadie. I want details,

had made years ago, which turned out to be the best one. Without Vivienne, she might have already crumbled under the pressure from the Abernathy family and

patting Kaitlyn's hand to comfort

spoke, "Bribery and unauthorized tutoring are one thing; allegations of indecency are another, especially after so much time has passed. Any surveillance from the old office would be long gone. Are there any witnesses who

Cassidy pointed her finger at Julian, those people didn't even bother investigating. They just took her word for it. Julian wasn't jailed, but he was detained for weeks. During that time, Sadie, Tyler, and I tried everything to

"What

Kaitlyn's tears momentarily ceased. Her eyes, clear and bright, were tinged with resentment as she clenched her teeth, "Who else but that ungrateful brat? Without Julian's financial support, he wouldn't have been able to afford his education. Yet, he was the one who accused Julian of bribery and unauthorized tutoring! And they believed him without considering that his family

precinct, Sophie was in a foul mood, roused from her

peacefully, and their clothes were worth less than a mere fraction of her blouse. But before leaving the Abernathy estate, Madeline had given her instructions: no matter what, they needed to retrieve the item from Kaitlyn. They

took root, "Give those two a

the officers, they hesitated, "I'm sorry,

during interrogation is nothing new. Are you saying you've never done that before?" The officers were in a bind. If not for Sophie's influential status, they'd be rolling their

beyond your capabilities?" The two old geezers looked like a strong breeze could knock

head of the local Education Bureau was still comforting the