The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gavin sprang to his feet, his face contorted in rage as he glared at Emrys. "That's utter nonsense! Have you thought about the consequences of your words?"

Vivienne raised an eyebrow and spoke in a calm, leisurely tone, "Oh? Threatening a witness in front of the judge now, are we?"

"You!"

Gavin glared at Vivienne, words failing him, just as Emrys declared emphatically, "Everything I've said is the truth. If there's a single lie, I'm ready to face the legal consequences!"

Gavin wanted to argue back, but the judge hammered down, cutting him off, "The verdict will now be pronounced!"

Just then, the courtroom door swung open.

Arthur, flanked by a team of fully armed officers, strode in. He nodded respectfully towards the judge and presented a document. "Under orders from the higher-ups, I'm taking over the cases of Harrison and Gavin!"

The courtroom erupted into murmurs. It was unprecedented for defendants to be escorted out during a verdict announcement. And especially right at the moment of verdict delivery.

Online, the chat was buzzing:

"Who's this guy? His power must be huge to take the defendants right out of the courtroom?"

"Yeah, and it sounds like he's trying to protect those two?"

"You don't get it. That's Arthur, our nation's War God. A hero on the battlefield, safeguarding our homeland. It's not about his power; it's his mission to protect us. Rumor has it he's never married because of his dedication."

"But why save the guilty? Isn't that a slap in the face to the innocent?"

his name, and then the War God pulls this stunt.

Harrison and

all the evidence against

just wait and

from the top, and with Arthur personally involved, even if it

done was to adjourn. Regardless of what investigation awaited

judge's announcement, the courtroom began to empty, leaving behind the jury, the

a fierce energy. They were so close to unraveling it all

abruptly and marched towards Arthur, her expression icy. "You can't take

had been

I.n

image in his mind. He sought her out, curious about the woman who had disrupted his plans. If not

Gavin. He scoffed internally. No one had dared to speak to him like that before.

shaking off Arthur's grip with a burst of energy, her tone frosty. "A War

confused. "Winnie, what are you talking

to be taught not to take what's not yours? Harrison and Gavin were my bait, months in the making, and you

plan to do, taking them from me is

stepped forward, positioning Vivienne behind him, and locked eyes with Arthur. "You dare lay hands on

still processing Vivienne's words when Percival's remark struck

piecing together a puzzle, he turned to Vivienne.

only realizing this now? My

none included her photograph. Despite her notoriety in Rivenwood images of her were rare.