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?"

name, and then the War

and

With all the evidence

and see what

the judge's face as he read the document. Indeed, it was a directive from the top, and with Arthur personally involved, even if it bent the rules, he had to comply. Returning the document, the judge announced, "Court adjourned! We will reconvene at a

done was to adjourn. Regardless of what investigation awaited Harrison and Gavin, they would still have to face

leaving

They were so close to unraveling it all when Arthur had

towards Arthur, her expression icy. "You

been

I.n

so much about her, hardly any of it good, shaping a rather negative image in his mind. He sought her out, curious about the

he couldn't take Harrison and Gavin. He scoffed internally. No one had dared to speak to him like that before. "Humph! Since when do I need your permission to-" His retort halted as his eyes met Vivienne's. Shock crossed his face, "Winnie?

Arthur's grip with a burst of energy, her

"Winnie, what are you talking

not yours? Harrison and Gavin were my bait,

of what you plan to do, taking them from me is where I draw the

behind him, and locked eyes with Arthur. "You

when Percival's remark struck him.

piecing together a puzzle,

knit together. "You're only realizing this now? My information should have been on your desk ages

information on Vivienne, but none included her photograph. Despite her notoriety in