The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 79

The Hawthorn clan was all worked up. They had high hopes that Vivienne’s dowry would revive their family’s fortune. But who could’ve guessed that the Ellingtons only coughed up a meager 88K? How could they swallow that?

So some relatives started grumbling, “You Ellingtons are such cheapskates! Even if the Hawthoms are just regular folks, 88K as a wedding gift is way too stingy. That’s just not on!”

“Did you lower the dowry to 88K just because Percival’s leg is healed? That’s low, even for you. You were willing to give 10 million when Percival was ill. But now that his leg’s all good, you’ve slashed the dowry. That’s not right!”

Everyone was chiming in, not giving Richard a chance to get a word in edgewise.

Arabella was shocked at the 88K dowry, but secretly, she was thrilled.

So what if Vivienne was a real Hawthorn? To the Ellingtons, she was only worth 88K.

Now, with Percival’s leg healed, they cared even less about Vivienne. Looked like she still had

a shot at winning this match.

“What the heck are you all blabbing about?” Dorian snapped, “I was the one who suggested the BBK dowry. I’m not selling my daughter! 10 million dollars? I don’t need it. I just want my daughter to live happily!”

Beatrice jerked her head up and stared at him in disbelief. “You suggested it?”

And I’ll let Vivienne take the entire 88K with

you disappointed? Did you expect me to get 10 million and give it to you? Dream on! Even

own blood, sweat, and tears, and this is how you repay me? If I knew you’d

to get that 10 million to save the Hawthorn family’s

ruined it all. How

of line! She is your mother, and Vivienne is her granddaughter. Mom has always taken care of the family’s wedding affairs. Why didn’t you consult her on such an important matter?

the state the Hawthorn family is in? Do you want to see our family’s business

want to air their dirty laundry in public, especially not in this setting. It

Chapter 79

right now, they

fight

couldn’t get 10 million, a few hundred thousand or a million would do. At

coldly. “I really don’t get it. Vivienne is my daughter, so why can’t I make decisions for her? A grandma demanding her granddaughter’s dowry? I

Beatrice stood her ground. “Vivienne is a Hawthorn; she should follow our tradition. I’m

too much time. With all these people watching, if

“Your words don’t count!’

Arguing with him

make the decisions for the Hawthorns. I decide my granddaughter’s dowry. 10 million dollars. That’s what we agreed on. If you shortchange us by a penny, we won’t

Richard hadn’t even opened his mouth when Cecilia

on the Hawthorns. But since Richard insisted on

going back on an agreed-upon dowry.

10 million dollars. She

She didn’t even sound mad. “It was your folks who first came knocking on our door for marriage. At first, I wasn’t on board with this match, but Richard was cool with

head of the family to decide, right? And Richard himself mentioned it. As long as we stuck to the marriage agreement, he’d give us ten million bucks. Now that Mr. Ellington’s