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.

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 account, her brow

in silence, absorbing every word, before finally speaking up, "What's

After the incident, I heard her family was so ashamed

"Havenwood?"

She paused for a moment before reassuringly smiling, "Don't worry. What's done is done, and it's high

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 of a scandal

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

made years ago, which turned out to be the best one. Without Vivienne, she

said nothing, simply patting Kaitlyn's hand to comfort

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

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

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

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

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

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

contemptuous glance at the couple behind bars before a venomous plot took root, "Give those two a taste of their own

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

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.

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

head of the local Education Bureau was still comforting the girl's mother,