The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 43

Joseph was dumbstruck, staring at Vivienne without uttering a word.

She had been hiding behind the door, and he hadn’t noticed!

What did it mean that she had slipped him a aphrodisiac?

As if to answer his silent question, Vivienne’s grin widened. “What happened yesterday was payback for what you did years ago, Joseph. You weren’t wrongly accused!”

Her expression was surprisingly calm, not a trace of anger on her face.

But that made her all the more devilish.

“You!” Joseph pointed at Vivienne, “You’re,nothing but trouble!”

“Enough! Big bro!” Dorian suddenly roared. “Evelyn is your sister–in–law, and you did that to her. Now you dare to insult Vivienne. Do you think I wouldn’t cut ties with you?”

He was filled with regret.

Utter regret!

When he knew Beatrice disliked Vivienne’s mother, he had thrown himself into his work, thinking that if he tried harder, Beatrice would accept Vivienne’s mother.

As a result, he had completely neglected his family.

“Get out of my house. From now on, you’re not welcome here,” Dorian said, pointing towards the door.

He wanted to seek justice for Vivienne’s mother, but without evidence, even calling the police wouldn’t help if Joseph just denied everything.

The only thing he could do was to break off contact with Joseph.

“What do you want Vivienne to explain?” Cordelia couldn’t hold back her anger. “What about you and Emma? Vivienne ‘did drug you, but that was because you drugged her first. She was just getting back at you!”

Cordelia spoke up resolutely. “You cheated on your wife, you even have a bastard child. You did something wrong and you blame Vivienne? Where’s your dignity?”

been having a hard time in the Hawthorn

wasn’t well–off, and after marrying Dorian, she was looked down upon by Beatrice and

had her pride, but

Joseph, a complete jerk who had bullied Vivienne’s mother, she couldn’t hold it in

that moment, she realized that excessive patience would never earn their

it was better

keep them away from him.

your place

Dorian’s lawful wife! I’m Vivienne’s stepmother! I have the right to speak here!” Cordelia

expected the usually docile Cordelia to be so firm, and he

drugged me, and you’re still

“Me drugging you?

Joseph was speechless.

no evidence.

she said lightly, “You have no evidence that I drugged you, but I have evidence that you drugged me. Wanna

they wouldn’t have the guts to

causing trouble, that

Joseph was

her, she could still feel that

had been protecting her, and she hadn’t been overly demanding of the Hawthorn family because

wondered, she had only been getting along with Dorian for half a month, but she had already

the Hawthorn family without any intention of letting them off

had changed her mind?

the affection Dorian had shown her.

was cunning. If

he had no proof that Vivienne had

was at

since the banquet, rumors and scandals about the Hawthorn family and him had been swirling around. The Hawthorn

teeth and

he glared at Dorian, “Aren’t you going to make her

was his brother after all. He could only look at Vivienne helplessly, “Vivienne…” Without making things more difficult for Joseph, Vivienne crouched down and shoved a pill into Joseph’s mouth.

the antidote, he stormed