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.

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 had him taken away." Vivienne listened intently to Kaitlyn's

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

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

"Havenwood?"

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

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 Havenwood, daughter named Cassidy, moved there five years

she texted Draven, [Dig into the bribery case involving

this 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

patting Kaitlyn's

road ahead, spoke, "Bribery and unauthorized tutoring are one thing; allegations of indecency are another, especially after so much time

bit her 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. Julian wasn't jailed, but he was detained for weeks. During that time, Sadie, Tyler, and I tried

"What about the bribery case? Who

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 couldn't pay

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

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

took root, "Give those two a

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

darkened, "What 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 rolling their eyes

turn down their cell's air conditioning and let in some mosquitoes. Surely, 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

the precinct lobby, the head of the local Education Bureau was still