The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 18

Inside the old Hawthorn family manor.

Arabella rushed back to the house, barely steady on her feet. She blurted out, “Granny, Dad has rented a house, and it’s in Tranquil Estates!”

“What?”

Beatrice, Michael, and Joseph all shot up from their seats, their faces showing utter disbelief as they stared at Arabella.

Beatrice was the first to recover, barely keeping her surprise under control. “Are you sure? Tranquil Estates doesn’t usually rent to outsiders.”

Arabella looked serious. “I asked the security staff in the residential area. They did rent it, and the rent is ridiculously low. It’s practically a giveaway”

Beatrice stayed silent, her eyebrows furrowed. After a while, she said, “Michael, look into who the landlord of that house is. No matter what it takes, we need to drive them out. The engagement deadline the Ellington family gave us is approaching fast. We can’t afford any mistakes”

Michael responded, “I’m on it.”

Arabella frowned slightly. After a pause, she said, “Grandma, I have an idea, but…..

“What idea? Let’s hear it,” Beatrice asked quickly.

Arabella leaned in to whisper in Beatrice’s ear. A smile spread across Beatrice’s face. “Good, that’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”

“But isn’t this a bit unfair to Vivienne?” Arabella hesitated

“Who cares what she thinks? She’s just a nobody to me. If this marriage falls through, what does Vivienne have to do with the Hawthorn family?” A cold glint flashed in Beatrice’s eyes.

Til follow your lead then.” Arabella lowered her head, a sly smile flickering in her eyes. But no one saw it.

got to the entrance of the residential area, she ran into Arabella

Vivienne, Arabella immediately walked up to

gave her a nonchalant glance. “What’s

to now? Didn’t she already know

whispering, “I thought you guys were

live here.” Vivienne replied, amused. She decided to play along with Arabella’s

was taken aback by Vivienne’s cooperation, but she quickly recovered. “You mean, you’re living here?

eyebrow.

is new to you, but this is not the place for you. You better

do you want

motel? You should just go

of the girls next to

as the Hawthorns in

didn’t like Coral, but she couldn’t ignore the Lockwood

she’s the country girl.” Coral laughed, covering her mouth. “Look at her clothes. They probably cost less than fifty bucks total. Arabella, you’re like night and day compared to her”

talk like that. She’s still my sister, and I’m just an adopted daughter

immediately. “Even if you’re adopted, the Hawthorns prefer you. You’re so outstanding, why wouldn’t they? And what if she’s the daughter of your family? She’s still been driven out, hasn’t she?”

talented in Havenwood. How could you be compared

her pockets, slanting her eyes at them with a smirk. Were these people

Hawthorn family? How did

Vivienne. “Maybe she saw how luxurious the neighborhood was

once you finish sightseeing, please leave. This is not a place everyone can just enter. If someone

hands in her pockets, watching her with

if she could see right through her. Could she have figured out why she was here? No way! Vivienne was just a girl who grew up in the Emerald Monastery. She’d supposedly been living there for the past decade. There was no way she

Coral snapped. “That’s not cool! I need to check if anything’s missing