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.

up early to go jogging. It was something she’d been doing for ten years. Just as she got to the entrance of the residential area, she ran into

to her. “Vivienne? What are you doing

gave her a nonchalant glance. “What’s up?”

this girl up to now? Didn’t she already know

you guys were staying at

amused. She decided to play along with Arabella’s

was taken aback by Vivienne’s cooperation, but she quickly recovered. “You

an eyebrow.

that outsiders aren’t allowed in Tranquil Estates?” Arabella chuckled. “Vivienne, I know you just moved to the city and everything is new to you, but this is not the place for you. You better leave before someone loses something valuable

you want me to go?”

should just go back there,” Arabella suggested

one of the girls next

prominent as the Hawthorns in

but she couldn’t ignore the Lockwood family

the country girl.” Coral laughed, covering her mouth. “Look at her clothes. They probably cost less than fifty bucks total. Arabella,

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

outstanding, why

you’re famously talented in Havenwood. How

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

the Hawthorn family? How did she get into

“Maybe she saw how luxurious the neighborhood was and wanted to

advised, “Vivienne, once you finish sightseeing, please leave. This is not a place everyone can just enter. If someone loses something,

there, hands in her pockets, watching her

was here? No way! Vivienne was just a girl who grew up in the Emerald Monastery. She’d supposedly been living there for

“That’s not cool! I need to