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 and her two classmates, who were invited over to someone’s

Vivienne, Arabella immediately walked up to her.

her a nonchalant

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

Vivienne, whispering, “I thought you guys

I live here.” Vivienne replied, amused. She decided to play along with

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

an eyebrow. “Tranquil

you just moved to the city and everything is new to you, but

you want

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

could respond, one of the girls next to Arabella blurted out, “Arabella, who is

Lockwood family. Though the Lockwoods weren’t as prominent as the Hawthorns in Havenwood, they still

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

Coral laughed, covering her mouth. “Look at her clothes. They probably cost less

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.”

if you’re adopted, the Hawthorns prefer you. You’re so outstanding, why wouldn’t they? And

other girl chimed in, “Yeah, you’re famously talented in Havenwood. How could

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

adoptive father get kicked out of the Hawthorn family?

saw how luxurious the neighborhood was and wanted to look

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

in her pockets, watching her with amusement.

was just a girl who grew up in the Emerald Monastery.

I need to check if anything’s missing