The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Before Leopold could utter another word, Abigail waved her hand, silencing him instantly.

"Today's my lucky day, so I'll spare your life. Just so you can watch as they fall one by one, becoming unwitting pawns in my grand scheme." Leopold's eyes bulged in disbelief.

If looks could kill, he'd have slain the wicked witch a thousand times over and fed her remains to the sharks.

Her grand scheme? Probably the delusions of a madwoman.

And eternal youth? Why didn't she just claim a throne in heaven if she was so capable!

Unfortunately, he was paralyzed, unable to speak a word.

If he could turn back time by just two minutes, he would warn Vivienne and Percival to flee. The witch was after their lives; escaping was their only chance to warn the others. Now, trapped, who would come to their rescue?

Before activating the ritual, Abigail conjured a wave of energy, filling the air with a thick, white mist. Everyone caught within struggled to breathe, and Leopold, previously glaring, passed out in moments. However, Vivienne and Percival, standing ten meters away, remained unaffected, watching coldly. Seeing Vivienne unaffected, Abigail's frustration grew. She increased her energy output, but to no avail. "This is impossible!" she exclaimed.

Vivienne dropped the act, "Nothing's impossible. I was never poisoned to begin with."

Suspicion flashed in Abigail's eyes, but she masked it with a smirk, "Not poisoned? Then why follow me?"

Vivienne's tone was calm, but her gaze was piercing, "I'm here not to be controlled by you, but to see how you bring about your own downfall."

If it weren't for Flynn's warning, she might have fallen into Abigail's trap, thinking the poison was in a pendant. But Flynn's reaction made her realize the poison was on him. Abigail had concocted various toxins, embedding them in Flynn's skin over time, creating a new, untraceable poison.

Flynn, the vessel for her to poison others.

cure. The poison on

her heart, so the poison was designed not to harm her physically, explaining why no

during their treatment sessions, refusing her

bore his pain alone,

the fog thickened, Percival shielded Vivienne, though they had taken antidotes. Vivienne reassured him with

you not poisoned? When

Vivienne and Percival doubted her

Delilah!"

mistake, "You even considered Delilah's ex-husband. My people following

explained how a simple

goal, "He was disposable.

launched an attack, but Vivienne countered, their energies clashing in

stared at Vivienne, "How do you still

my unique constitution, or maybe your

her expression souring,

that look on Abigail's

let out a derisive

my mother back then is

perfect sacrifice had two heartbeats. That's a major

moment Abigail mentioned her mother, Vivienne

just before she

be a compelling reason