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.

say... the girl 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

finally speaking up,

Cassidy. After the incident, I heard her family was so ashamed that they moved

"Havenwood?"

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

but aware of the difficulty ahead, Kaitlyn started to protest, but Vivienne had already turned away, dialing on her cell phone, "Check for a family in

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

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 the Abernathy

patting Kaitlyn's hand

road ahead, 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

her word for it. Julian wasn't jailed, but

surprised and switched gears, "What about the

her teeth, "Who else but that ungrateful brat? Without Julian's financial support, he wouldn't have

the local precinct, Sophie was in a foul mood, roused from her bed in the dead of

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

sparing another contemptuous glance at the couple behind bars before a venomous plot took root,

motioned to the officers, they hesitated, "I'm sorry, Ms. Abernathy.

accused of murder? A little pressure during interrogation is nothing new. Are you saying you've never done that

some mosquitoes. Surely, that's not beyond your capabilities?" The two old geezers looked like a

Vivienne and her group arrived at the precinct lobby, the head of the local Education Bureau was still comforting the girl's mother, who had