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.

jogging. It was something she’d been doing for ten years. Just as she got to the entrance of the

Vivienne, Arabella immediately walked up to

her a nonchalant

girl up to now? Didn’t she already know

feigned fear of Vivienne, whispering, “I thought you guys were staying at a motel? How did you

amused. She decided to play along with Arabella’s game.

cooperation, but she quickly recovered. “You mean, you’re living here? Vivienne, do you know what place this

eyebrow.

is new to you, but this is not the place for you. You better leave before someone loses something valuable and you

smirked, “So where do you want me to go?”

you guys staying at a motel? You should just go back there,”

next to Arabella blurted out, “Arabella, who

Lockwoods weren’t as prominent as the Hawthorns in Havenwood, they still held a significant status, and

but she couldn’t ignore the Lockwood family “She’s my sister” Arabella replied.

“Look at her clothes. They probably

gaze and whispered, “Coral, don’t talk like that. She’s still my sister, and I’m just an adopted daughter of the Hawthorn family.”

with being adopted?” Coral retorted 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

Havenwood. How could you be

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

didn’t your adoptive father get kicked out of the Hawthorn family? How did she get into the residential area?” Coral

luxurious the neighborhood was and wanted to

This is not a place everyone can just enter. If someone loses something, it’ll

hands in her pockets, watching her with amusement.

gaze. It was as 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

snapped. “That’s not cool! I need