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

to

nonchalant

Didn’t

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

here.” Vivienne replied, amused. She decided to

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

an eyebrow. “Tranquil

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

do you want

staying at a motel? You should just go

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

as prominent as the Hawthorns in Havenwood, they still held a significant status,

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, you’re like night and day

She’s still my sister, and I’m just an adopted daughter of

so outstanding, why wouldn’t they? And what if she’s the daughter of your family? She’s still been driven out,

famously talented in Havenwood. How could you be compared to a country girl?”

shoved her hands into her pockets, slanting her eyes at them with a smirk.

get kicked out of the Hawthorn family? How did she get into the residential area?”

luxurious

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

stood there, hands in her pockets, watching

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

“That’s not cool! I need to check