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.

a pretty little thing like you to such a

could it be?

reached out to grab her. “Well

Arabella shrieked, dodging

ungrateful wench! You’ll regret it!”

and ran. She blindly dashed into the nearby woods, dialing 911 as

please provide your

glanced behind her and saw that the men were gaining on her. Panic set in, and she screamed, “Hurry up! They’re catching up to

villages in the East District. Which one are you near,

grove I’m in!” Arabella was unfamiliar with the East District, let alone the numerous groves. She

the phone with the cops! Let’s finish her

then sell her. Ivan needs kidneys, right? Let’s sell one of hers first, then let her

but the path ahead was pitch black. She had no idea where she was

door at the bottom left of the main gate was half open. Without thinking, she dashed through and slammed it shut behind

enter, the thugs kicked the metal door and

didn’t try to climb over the gate or the

startled by a chuckle from

man in hospital attire grinning at her. “Miss, are…are you

recalled as the man lunged at her She quickly backed away and

The fat man giggled

bed. The chubby man found her reem quickly calling out for his bande’ while lifting up the covers of each

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

patient, awoken

began to wail

bed, baffled at the lack of staff

The fat man’s voice grew louder. “I

suggested,

her chest. The next second, the fat man’s drooling face

back away, but was caught off guard by another man on her other side. He dragged her out

tossed onto the cold floor. Using the dim light

faces of four other men in the

crooked eye and a

a menacing

was constantly muttering gibberish under

somewhat normal was brandishing a crude knife that was carved out of wood. He sneered at her. “Looks like

cross-eyed man quickly intervened. “No, no way; she’s

her!”

brooding man chimed in. “What a waste it would be to devour her straight away.

clearly see the words “N&S Psychiatric

Chapter

lunged at her. She quickly

house.