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.

big to-do, but the Ellingtons all showed

had drawn the attention of all

away the glory that should have belonged to Arabella, and that didn’t sit

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

shuffled into the private room, while the Hawthorns were still

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Chapter 76

so Dorian was climbing the walls.

ever do to you? And by the way, you weren’t even invited

leave.”

huffy. “I’m your brother. How dare you talk to me like that? Don’t you know your

my dad!” Dorian shot back, fuming. “If you dare badmouth my

frowned. “Dorian, that’s out of

of you given her any gifts? And now you’re

truly pissed off

If she said she’d be back before the engagement party, she’d be

had been underway for ten minutes, and she was still MIA. Something must have

on about how Vivienne was rude and ill-mannered. Did they think he was

Michael was ticked off too, but found himself at a loss for

Ellingtons are all in the private room, and we’re out here squabbling.

Michael and Joseph

speaking harshly. It’s an important day, and

tried to say something, but Beatrice cut him off. “Go find

talk!”

be here? If it

“Don’t argue with

up. I’m really worried something might have happened to her.”

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Chapter 76

the police, they can’t do anything.” Cordella thought for a moment before

Vivienne.”

for a moment and then nodded.

to approach

Percival greeted them. “My grandpa sent

happened to her. We were going to ask your grandpa if he could

Percival frowned. “Since when?”

an hour ago, we tried