The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 35

Beatrice instantly started looking for Vivienne and Percival but saw no sign of them. Her forehead scrunched up in worry. The medicine meant for Vivienne was ingested by Joseph instead. Vivienne and Percival were supposed to be in this room, but now it was occupied by Joseph and a nanny. Beatrice had seen too much in her lifetime and immediately suspected Vivienne was behind this.

“That little bitch!” Beatrice fumed.

“Grandma, let’s not get heated up, we need to sort this out first!” Arabella was equally livid.

She had no idea how Vivienne discovered the aphrodisiac in her drink, let alone why, Joseph ended up taking the drug she made. But she had no time to dwell on that, she just wanted to get the current situation under control.

Beatrice knew this wasn’t the time to investigate these issues. She glanced at the gàwping guests, feeling utterly humiliated. She instructed Arabella, “Since you made the drug, give Joseph the antidote.”

Arabella nodded, she was thinking the same.

She summoned two security guards to bring Joseph down. Then, she pretended to examine him and slipped him the antidote when no one was watching.

But Joseph showed no sign of improvement, the antidote didn’t work!

Arabella’s brow furrowed instantly, what was going on? Why wasn’t her antidote working? She remembered that Vivienne had some medical skills. Did Vivienne change her drug? That’s just impossible!

Vivienne was just a village girl from Emerald Mountain. Even if she had some medical knowledge, it was elementary at best. She must have lucked out when she cured Isolde. She couldn’t possibly know how to make aphrodisiac. Could it be Percival? It must be him. He’s a cripple, couldn’t get a wife, so he planned to drug Vivienne. But he didn’t expect Joseph to take it instead.

Beatrice also noticed that the antidote had no effect on Joseph, who seemed more energetic and stronger than before. He pushed the security guards aside and lunged at the nanny again, creating another indecent scene. Everyone started to feel awkward by the scene.

Beatrice’s face darkened. She looked at Arabella, questioning her with her eyes.

loud enough for

sharp woman she is, immediately caught on to Arabella’s intentions and played along, “What? An aphrodisiac?”

Arabella looked satisfied with Beatrice’s cooperation and continued, “I’ve checked, he’s taken a very potent aphrodisiac. It can only be

would do such

Joseph’s room is upstairs. Even if he wanted to have sex with the nanny, he would have chosen

sure everyone could hear the implications in her

a scandal should be handled privately.

recording the incident. It had to be dealt

no one from the Hawthorn family

a second that Joseph and

Hawthorn after all, if he wanted an affair, he would

so special about

the crowd nodded,

so careless when

more to this

raised her

to Dorian and yelled, “Your precious daughter framed Joseph

retorted, “Mom! We

her and Mr. Ellington in this room. But then it was Joseph and this happened. Everyone is here, but she and Mr. Ellington are missing. Then

speaking, a cold voice came from

see Vivienne pushing

sidelines, fully aware of the true intention behind all this drama an attempt to frame Vivienne and Percival that backfired. But they kept their thoughts to themselves, worried

rushed over, “Mr. Ellington,

indifferent,