The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Kaitlyn knew all too well that things couldn't be that simple; there must have been someone fanning the flames behind the scenes.

But by then, the Littletons had fallen from grace. Those who once flocked around her family with flattering words were nowhere to

be found after her parents' untimely deaths. To seek their help now would be nothing short of a pipe dream.

Yet the persecution from the ancient warrior lineages did not cease.

Tears streamed down Kaitlyn's cheeks as she struggled to catch her breath, coughing twice. "My father-in-law, Julian, ever since

someone accused him of taking bribes... It's been one thing after another. Private tutoring, disciplining students too harshly. And

now... they're accusing him of... of indecency with a student."

Julian had once been a celebrated teacher at Rivenwood High, but now his reputation was in tatters.

His wife, Sadie, couldn't continue with her job either, taken in for questioning by the school board tand again. Only after the

school let them go did the tumult finally begin to subside.

"This time, they say... the girl who accused Julian... she jumped from her building and took her life. Her parents think it's Julian's

fault, so... so they called the cops and had him taken away."

Vivienne listened intently to Kaitlyn's account, her brow furrowed throughout.

Percival drove in silence, absorbing every word, before finally speaking up, "What's the girl's name? Is she still in Rivenwood?"

Kaitlyn's voice was shaky, "Her nis Cassidy. After the incident, | heard her family was so ashamed that they moved to

Havenwood."

"Havenwood?"

Vivienne hadn't heard that nin ages. She paused for a moment before reassuringly smiling, "Don't worry. What's done is done,

and it's high twe closed this chapter."

Grateful but aware of the difficulty ahead, Kaitlyn started to protest, but Vivienne had already turned away, dialing on her cell

phone, "Check for a family in Havenwood, daughter named Cassidy, moved there five years ago from Rivenwood, left because of a

scandal involving a teacher at Seafield High School."

After ending the call, she texted Draven, [Dig into the bribery case involving Julian and Sadie. | want details, as much as you can

find.]

"Vivienne, will this really work?" Kaitlyn watched her, at a loss for words, her heart swelling with gratitude for the most impulsive

decision she had made years ago, which turned out to be the best one. Without Vivienne, she might have already crumbled under

the pressure from the Abernathy family and given in!

Vivienne said nothing, simply patting Kaitlyn's hand to comfort her.

Percival, eyes fixed on the road ahead, spoke, "Bribery and unauthorized tutoring are one thing; allegations of indecency are

another, especially after so much thas passed. Any surveillance from the old office would be long gone. Are there any

witnesses who can vouch for your father-in-law?"

Kaitlyn bit her lip and shook her head, "No. Once Cassidy pointed her finger at Julian, those people didn't even bother investigating.

They just took her word for it. Julian wasn't jailed, but he was detained for weeks. During that time, Sadie, Tyler, and | tried

everything to appeal, but it was no use."

Percival wasn't surprised and switched gears, "What about the bribery case? Who accused him?"

At that, Kaitlyn's tears momentarily ceased. Her eyes, clear and bright, were tinged with resentment as she clenched her teeth,

"Who else but that ungrateful brat? Without Julian's financial support, he wouldn't have been able to afford his education. Yet, he

was the one who accused Julian of bribery and unauthorized tutoring! And they believed him without considering that his family

couldn't pay a dime!"

Meanwhile, in the local precinct, Sophie was in a foul mood, roused from her bed in the dead of night.

Upon arriving and seeing Julian and Sadie locked up, she felt a surge of disdain. They were the reason she couldn't sleep

peacefully, and their clothes were worth less than a mere fraction of her blouse.

But before leaving the Abernathy estate, Madeline had given her instructions: no matter what, they needed to retrieve the item

from Kaitlyn. They had to show their strength to the Grimshaws, or she'd end up married to that Leopold character.

Sophie's lips curled in disgust at the thought, sparing another contemptuous glance at the couple behind bars before a venomous

plot took root, "Give those two a taste of their own medicine."

Lurking in the shadows, she was out of Julian and Sadie's sight and hearing.

When she motioned to the officers, they hesitated, "I'm sorry, Ms. Abernathy. We can't use excessive force on detainees."

Sophie's expression darkened, "What do you mean you can't? Aren't they accused of murder? A little pressure during interrogation

is nothing new. Are you saying you've never done that before?"

The officers were in a bind. If not for Sophie's influential status, they'd be rolling their eyes to the heavens.

Sophie's patience was wearing thin, her manicured finger pointing accusingly, "Then at least turn down their cell's air conditioning

and let in smosquitoes. Surely, that's not beyond your capabilities?"

The two old geezers looked like a strong breeze could knock them over, let alone the chill of an air conditioner combined with the

relentless assault of pesky mosquitoes.

They were in for a rough time!

When Vivienne and her group arrived at the precinct lobby, the head of the local Education Bureau was still comforting the girl's

mother, who had not left her side.

Dressed to the nines, the elegant woman dabbed at her tears, heartbroken, "My precious daughter, she was so healthy back then.

But she ended up with severe depression. We had no choice but to take her away from Rivenwood to get treatment. It took us ages

to get her back on her feet, and now this wretched man won't leave us alone. Thank goodness we caught on early. If something

had happened to my girl, | couldn't bear to live!"

Kipling, standing by, kept trying to soothe her, “The kid is alright, isn’t she? No more tears now. Officer, this Julian, he was a

colleague of mine back in the day. He had a lousy reputation even then!”

He counted off on his fingers the incidents from the past that had been the talk of the town, and then he sighed with the

exasperation of a man disappointed beyond words, "I mean, the guy's not without talent. It's just baffling; why on earth can't he

just behave like a decent human being?"

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