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.

who accused Julian... she jumped from her building and took her life. Her parents think it's Julian's fault, so... so they called the cops and had him taken away." Vivienne listened intently to

in silence, absorbing every word, before finally speaking

After the incident, I heard her family was

"Havenwood?"

that name in ages. She paused for a moment before reassuringly smiling, "Don't worry. What's done

the difficulty ahead, Kaitlyn started to protest, but Vivienne had already turned away, dialing on her cell phone, "Check for a family in Havenwood, daughter named Cassidy, moved there five years ago from Rivenwood, left because

call, she texted Draven, [Dig into the bribery case involving Julian

really work?" Kaitlyn watched her, at a loss for words, her heart swelling with gratitude for the most impulsive decision she had made years ago, which turned out to be the best one. Without Vivienne, she might have already crumbled under the pressure from

said nothing, simply patting Kaitlyn's hand to

"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

lip and shook her head, "No. Once Cassidy pointed her finger at Julian, those people didn't even bother investigating. They just took her word for it.

switched gears, "What

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

Sophie was in a foul

their clothes were worth less than a mere fraction of her blouse. But before leaving the Abernathy estate,

root, "Give those two a taste of their own medicine." Lurking in the shadows,

officers, they hesitated, "I'm sorry,

during interrogation is nothing new. Are you saying you've never done that before?" The

that's not beyond your capabilities?" The two old geezers looked like a strong breeze could knock them over, let alone the chill of an air conditioner combined with the relentless assault of

group arrived at the precinct lobby, the head of the local Education Bureau was still comforting the girl's mother, who had not