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.

took her life. Her parents think it's Julian's fault, so... so they called the cops and had

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

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

"Havenwood?"

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

Vivienne had already turned away, dialing on her cell phone, "Check for a family in Havenwood, daughter named Cassidy, moved there five

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

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

said nothing, simply patting Kaitlyn's hand

are one thing; allegations of indecency are another, especially after so much time has passed. Any surveillance

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 appeal, but it was no

switched gears, "What about the bribery case? Who accused

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 couldn't pay

a foul mood, roused from her bed in the dead

surge of disdain. They were the reason she couldn't sleep 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 had to show their strength to the Grimshaws, or she'd end up married to that

disgust at the thought, sparing another contemptuous glance at the couple behind bars before a venomous plot took root, "Give those two a taste of their own medicine." Lurking in the shadows, she was out of Julian and Sadie's sight

the officers, they hesitated, "I'm sorry, Ms. Abernathy. We can't use excessive force on

do you mean you can't? Aren't they accused of murder? A little pressure 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

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 pesky mosquitoes. They were in for a rough

lobby, the head of the local Education Bureau was still comforting the girl's mother, who had not left