The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne stepped forward, her pale fingers tracing the edge of Samantha's face before gently tugging, peeling away the human skin mask that Samantha had been wearing. Beneath the mask was not the face of the celebrated celebrity Samantha had been impersonating but her true visage, causing a wave of shock among the onlookers!

Her face, wrinkled beyond recognition, could barely frame her eyes, which, against the backdrop of her aged skin, seemed profoundly weary and clouded.

Ethan, standing not too far away, couldn't contain himself and vomited at the sight.

He had been intimate with this woman, under the impression she was someone else entirely. The thought that he had been deceived and had shared his bed with someone so far removed from his belief repulsed him. He had assumed her youthful appearance was the result of excellent self-care.

The realization had Ethan retching again, heaving on the ground.

Vivienne nonchalantly tossed the human skin mask aside, her expression indifferent as she addressed Samantha, "Surprised? I thought you'd have figured it out by now." Samantha's head hung low, especially when she caught the pitiful and disgusted looks from those around her. Stripped of her beauty, she despised what she had become.

Seeing Samantha's silence, Vivienne spoke again, "I've allowed you your fun for too long. It's time to end this game." Samantha, startled, quickly proposed a deal, "Let me go, and I'll give you information on the woman behind all this!"

Vivienne scoffed, "There's no need for your help. She won't get far."

"Vivienne!" Samantha pleaded desperately, "That woman is powerful, you're no match for her. I can help you, just spare my life."

Vivienne's tone turned icy, "And what of the lives you've taken? Do they not deserve mercy? Do the innocent children, who never got a chance to see the world, deserve death?"

She gripped Samantha's chin, "Did you think you escaped on your own, or that Ethan's protection saved you?"

before laughing bitterly, acknowledging Vivienne as a formidable foe she'd

her fate, Samantha preferred death by Vivienne's hand over

ordered, "Take her to the Wolf's Den. Cripple her and

Mystics Society, who pitied Samantha for not

short as she was forcibly fed

preparations were made to confine

any man present, she

Samantha from the scene, her fate sealed within the confines of a makeshift prison, her journey ending not with a whimper,

Samantha was taken

escort the entire Grimshaw clan off the premises. Due to the size of the Grimshaw family, it was necessary to summon several

matter settled, Vivienne and Percival saw no reason to linger. As they turned to leave, Vivienne paused, glancing back towards the hill behind

elnet

estate. A

at the

hinting at hidden

couldn't help but smile too. His wife was indeed cunning, like a

Percival were on their way back when

confirmed. You and Arthur are biologically