The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 140

As Cordelia picked up her phone, she was baffled to see Arabella’s name flash on the screen. A surge of anger welled within her, but she answered the call anyway.

Arabella’s sobbing voice filled the air around the phone. “Dad! You need to come and save me! I’ve been locked up…”

“What? Are you trying to set your dad up again using the same old trick?” Cordelia interrupted her as a bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Arabella seemed taken aback on the other end of the line. “Mom…”

“Don’t call me mom. I can’t bear the weight of it.” Cordelia retorted coldly. “Your dad is still bedridden due to your antics. What are you scheming this time?”

“No, mom, it’s different now. I’m really in trouble.” Arabella’s voice was filled with desperation, and her breath was heavy as if she were on the run.

But Cordelia was not about to be fooled again. Even if she believed Arabella, she wouldn’t bother to help. Her heart was already battered and bruised.

Cordelia cut Arabella off in a stern tone. “Arabella, the biggest regret your dad and I have in this life is adopting you. Now that we’ve severed ties, please stop bothering us.”

With that, she ended the call with a harsh click and followed Michael’s lead by switching off Dorian’s phone.

Even turning off Dorian’s phone wasn’t enough. She turned off her own too.

The mere thought of Arabella made her sick.

East District.

Arabella wasn’t lying to Beatrice. She had been trying to contact the mysterious man since that day.

Unfortunately, as soon as their plot to frame Dorian was exposed, that man and his gang disappeared without a trace.

Left with no other choice, she had to track Elijah’s lawyer in an attempt to find him.

She believed if the man had gone to the lengths of hiring a lawyer for Elijah, he wouldn’t abandon him. He must still be in touch with the lawyer.

But to her dismay, she lost track of Elijah’s lawyer upon reaching the East District.

It was already late, but she thought about how those people had been hiding in the most chaotic part of the East District, Urban Village. So she decided to try her luck.

Little did she expect to be targeted by three thugs not long after she entered Urban Village.

They stalked her to a secluded grove, where they began to make their move.

smirked. “What brings a pretty little thing like

“What else could it be? She’s probably lonely and

her. “Well then, we’ll

lost!’ Arabella shrieked,

You’ll regret it!” One of the men

She blindly dashed into the nearby woods, dialing 911 as she ran. “I

you please provide your exact location?” A dispatcher

near Urban Village in the East District!” Arabella glanced behind her and saw that the men were gaining on her.

one are

was unfamiliar with the East District,

Let’s finish her off!” One of the men chasing

Another one sneered. “Let’s have our fun, then sell her. Ivan needs kidneys, right? Let’s sell one of hers first,

was pitch black. She had no idea where she was and could only

The small door at the bottom

Unable to enter, the thugs kicked the

the gate

the dark yard, startled by a chuckle from the

around to see a chubby man in hospital attire grinning at her. “Miss, are…are

her She quickly backed

fat man giggled while chasing

chubby man found her

patients in the room were disturbed. Someone snapped on the lights, and another started yelling,

patient, awoken

began to wail

still under the bed, baffled at the lack

bride, bride! The fat man’s voice grew louder. “I saw you come

one of the patients suggested, “Did you check under

next second, the fat man’s

off guard by another man on her other side. He

tossed onto the cold floor. Using the dim light provided, she managed

faces of four other

crooked eye and a

a menacing look

muttering gibberish

that was carved out of wood. He sneered

quickly intervened. “No, no

her!”

“What a waste it would be to devour her straight away.

glaring light, she could clearly see the words “N&S Psychiatric Hospital” on their

Chapter

at her. She quickly backed away and ran into

house.