The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 76

Dorian and Cordelia looked pretty peeved.

Their outfits were freshly bought and cost them a grand. Splurging a thousand bucks on clothes was a bit much for them, but for their daughter Vivienne, they bit the bullet and paid

They didn’t expect even that to earn them the stink eye.

Today was the engagement party, and the whole Hawthorn clan was there. They were all dolled up to the nines.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think the Hawthorns were hosting the show.

Dorian was a bit miffed, but hey, it was Vivienne’s party, so he kept his trap shut.

There were four tables set for the party.

Three were hogged by the Hawthorns.

The Ellingtons took up one table. Aside from Richard, the rest of the Ellington crew was there

too.

Their group wasn’t big. They were just enough to fill one table.

The party was supposed to kick off at noon, but as the clock ticked closer, Vivienne was still

a no-show.

Cordelia and Dorian had been blowing up Vivienne’s phone, but she never answered.

“What’s Vivienne’s deal? She’s late for her own engagement party and is keeping all these elders waiting. What gives?” Joseph Hawthorn was still sore from Vivienne’s previous scheme, and he hadn’t been able to smooth things over with Octavia yet, so seeing Vivienne playing hooky didn’t do him any favors.

“Joseph, Vivienne’s just a country bumpkin. She wouldn’t know manners if they hit her in the face. She’s probably trying to embarrass us on purpose now that she’s engaged to Mr. Ellington.” Alisa Hawthorn grumbled, sounding as sour as a lemon.

engagement party was hosted by Dorian’s family. It wasn’t a big to-do, but

the attention of all

away the glory that should have belonged to Arabella, and that

think she is? She’s embarrassing us! She should look

room, while the Hawthorns were still milling about outside, so Percival didn’t

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Chapter 76

so Dorian was climbing the walls. Joseph’s

do to you? And by the way, you weren’t even invited to this party.

leave.”

snap back at him like that, and he got all huffy. “I’m your brother. How dare you talk to me like that?

my brother, but you’re not my dad!” Dorian shot back, fuming. “If you dare badmouth my daughter again, I’ll kick you

standing nearby, frowned. “Dorian, that’s out of

whole lot of you here today genuinely wishes well for my daughter? Have any of you given her any gifts? And now you’re blaming her for not following the rules? Shouldn’t you, as her relatives,

was truly pissed

level-headed kid. If she said she’d be back before the engagement party, she’d be

the party had been underway for ten minutes, and

people were still blabbering on about how Vivienne was rude and ill-mannered. Did they think

was ticked off too, but found

stop bickering!” Beatrice cut in sharply. “The Ellingtons are all in the private

Michael and

and then turned to Dorian. “Don’t blame your brothers for speaking harshly. It’s an important day, and Vivienne’s tardiness is unacceptable. The Ellingtons are waiting, and if she’s late, people

Beatrice cut him off. “Go find Vivienne.

talk!”

If it weren’t for the Ellingtons’ bridal gift,

at Dorian and whispered, “Don’t argue with them. Let’s try to

not picking up. I’m really worried something might have happened to

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Chapter 76

night. It hasn’t been 24 hours yet, so even if we report to the police, they can’t do anything.” Cordella thought for a moment before suggesting, “Let’s ask Richard

Vivienne.”

a moment and then nodded. “Alright, let’s ask Richard

approach Richard,

them. “My grandpa sent me to ask when’s the

said Dorian with a heavy tone. “I’m worried something’s happened to her. We were going to ask your grandpa

Percival frowned. “Since when?”

able to reach her last night. About an hour ago, we tried to