The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 2

The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.

“Wait, what? Percival’s fiancée?” Beatrice jumped to her feet before finishing her sentence. “Yeah, right. It’s Vivienne who’s engaged to the Ellingtons, not you. Now that Vivienne’s back, you don’t have to marry Percival.”

Richard had always doted on Percival, especially after Percival saved him two years ago, despite ending up disabled. Richard’s affection for him only grew. And he also became more and more reckless, squandering Richard’s money without a second thought.

But for some reason, the Ellingtons suddenly sent someone over a while back, saying that the Hawthorn’s lady had an engagement with Percival and they had to honor it. At the time, Vivienne wasn’t back yet, so the Hawthorn’s lady was Arabella, right?

Beatrice was immediately anxious. Even though the Ellingtons held a high status, Arabella was her carefully nurtured protege. She wanted Arabella to marry someone better, someone who could elevate the Hawthorns to new heights. Although Percival was favored, he lacked real power, and the money he had was still provided by his parents and Richard. It was important to know that the money would run out, and when it did, he might be dependent on Arabella’s wealth.

Beatrice naturally wouldn’t allow that. But because of the engagement with the Ellingtons, she couldn’t just call it off. So she’d been brainstorming ways to smoothly break off the engagement.

Now that Vivienne was back, there was no need to break off the engagement. After all, Vivienne was just a country girl. She was a good match for the disabled Percival. The Hawthorns could even use this opportunity to deepen their relationship with the Ellingtons. It was a win–win.

Thinking of this, Beatrice immediately said, “I agree with Vivienne’s return. You guys go teach Vivienne some manners. She’s getting engaged to Percival in a month. We can’t have her embarrassing the Hawthorns at the engagement party.”

Dorian and Cordelia were stunned and looked at Beatrice in disbelief. They still hadn’t recovered from Arabella’s words earlier.

Soon Dorian lifted his head. “Wait, what engagement party? Isn’t Arabella the one engaged to Percival?”

“Once Vivienne’s back, she’s the older daughter of the Hawthorn family. She’s the one engaged to the Ellingtons. Now that she’s back, she should honor the engagement,” Beatrice shot back.

At this, Cordelia furrowed her brows and looked at Vivienne, feeling a pang of sympathy. Beatrice’s scheme was too transparent. No wonder she agreed so easily to Vivienne’s return. She had ulterior motives.

Who didn’t know that Percival was disabled?

Beatrice didn’t even want Arabella to marry Percival before, but now she wanted Vivienne to marry him.

darkened.

Beatrice retorted. “We can’t afford to

guys!” Dorian was so angry

She turned to Vivienne. “If you want to return to the Hawthorn family, you have to get engaged to Percival.”

Beatrice, her eyes shining brightly. After a moment, she spoke calmly.

to return to the

smiled faintly. She came back to the Hawthorn family just in time to call off her engagement to

went back to Dorian and Cordelia’s house. Eight years ago, Dorian was kicked out of the Hawthorn Mansion by the family elders. Now they lived in a small apartment at Prominent Estates on the edge of downtown. The neighborhood was somewhat run–down. {robably because of its years,

Her luggage was still not unpacked since she just got home today. As soon as she entered her room, someone knocked on the door. She got up to open it and saw Dorian and Cordelia outside, looking like they had something

way for Dorian to come in.

lips, unsure of

spit it out Vivienne offered Dorian

to help you cancel the

looking surprised at him.

dad thinks marriage is a big deal, and Percival is disabled. If you marry him, you’ll have to take care of him for the rest of your life. He hopes you can find a man of good character who truly loves

your

family had got money and power? That engagement was nothing but a trap, and once Vivienne fell in, her life would

at Cordelia with a slight smile, “Yeah, I’m planning on

wife and Vivienne’s stepmother. In the short few hours of interaction, Vivienne didn’t find Cordelia off–putting. She also saw that

Ellington family right away to

Chapter 2

in the woods, three people were standing there. The one on the left was a stylishly dressed man with earrings, he looked the tall man next to him, ‘Mr. Ellington, it’s been two days and the girl hasn’t shown

The man in the middle, with narrow eyes, was staring at the nameless monument with a glint in his eyes. He was dressed in black

from the Ellington family, the one who Vivienne had saved. And the one who spoke first was the young son of

his earlobe and chuckled, “Miss Hawthorn is a remarkable woman from Havenwood, and your two families have been engaged

people from the Hawthorn family haven’t proposed to

call off the engagement? Even if you’re disabled, they wouldn’t call off the

the Hawthorn family knew that Percival wasn’t disabled,