The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne's lips curved into a smirk, her tone casual yet tinged with disdain, "Oliver, that's quite the bold statement. Are you implying that the Grimshaw family no longer holds our nation in high regard?" Oliver scoffed, "The loyalty of the Grimshaw family to our country is not for you to question, little miss. Did you think that with the Perez and Ellington families backing you, you can do whatever you please? Today, after I deal with you, both the Perez and Ellington families will also be dealt with, and their downfall will be due to your foolishness!"

"Ha!" Vivienne laughed, a wild and unrestrained smile playing on her lips, "I've always considered myself quite clever."

"Enough with your nonsense. I'll send you to your grave right now!" Oliver declared, before striking at Vivienne with his palm.

Though his strike seemed light, being a fifth-level master, his attack was lethal. Vivienne would be lucky to survive, let alone remain unscathed!

But Vivienne stood her ground, unmoving.

Oliver sneered, thinking how foolish it was for her to believe that a simple protective shield could withstand a strike from a fifth-level master.

Ridiculous!

Yet, in the next second, Oliver's smirk froze on his face as he stared in disbelief at Vivienne, then at Percival.

With a slight raise of his arm, Percival effortlessly dispersed Oliver's power!

His action was as casual as swatting a fly.

But this was a supernatural power!

A fifth-level master had exerted almost eighty percent of his strength, how could Percival deflect it so easily? Oliver, refusing to believe it, exerted his power once more, declaring coldly, "Seems I need to get serious."

This time, he used all his strength.

But even then, Percival merely used his hands, not even bothering to move his feet.

Stunned, Oliver exclaimed, "What's going on here?"

Percival, hands in his pockets, appeared utterly relaxed, "Forgot to mention, Vivienne thought I was getting bored. She had me practice powers with her, and, well, I'm not much to speak of, but I've reached the seventh level!"

It was an odd turn of events!

During their practice, Percival discovered he could easily master supernatural abilities without any prior training.

progress far outpaced

After examining Percival, Finnian marveled at his rare talent for cultivation, suggesting that Percival's

level - such a distant dream

folks, reaching the third

level, each step required at least ten years, assuming one had peculiar

took him years to reach the fifth

Vivienne as freaks

twenties, reached the fourth level

other, in his thirties, achieved the seventh

feat that left Oliver wide-eyed, "Impossible!

Ethan were equally

who had been discreetly honing his skills in hopes of leading the Grimshaw family, tirelessly training to reach the

beyond his imagination, let alone Percival's

even a

imagine, Oliver," Percival coolly remarked, hinting at the

composure, Oliver retorted, "The Grimshaw family has provided wealth and security for our nation. You think you can

do

acting under

the very fabric of our society, not just the state's

never endangered our country. You can't just pin false accusations on us!" Percival smirked, "Why don't you ask your second son what he's

and Asher may not have

wealth unethically, bearing the weight of numerous lives on their

to their adversaries. Even if charges were brought against the Grimshaw family, scapegoats could be found, leaving the

in command, was

towards Ethan, "What have

that because of the Abernathy family debacle, Vivienne and Percival were seizing the chance to bring

supernatural abilities of Percival and Vivienne, he was convinced by Percival's claim that there must be someone in the family conducting inhumane activities behind

Otherwise, with Percival's powers,

absolutely no

elaborate scheme to

troop

Grimshaw family; he could