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.

her path and smirked. “What brings a pretty little thing like you to such a dangerous place

heard another one say, “What else could it be? She’s probably lonely and

to grab her. “Well then, we’ll keep you company

shrieked, dodging

it!” One

nearby woods, dialing 911 as she ran.

your exact location?” A

East District!” Arabella glanced behind her and saw that the men were gaining on her. Panic set

urban villages in the East District. Which one are you near, and in which grove?” The

unfamiliar with the East District, let alone the numerous groves.

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

her. Ivan needs kidneys, right?

Arabella heard, the colder her heart felt. She sped up, but the path ahead was pitch black. She had no idea where she was

walls ahead. It looked like a hospital. The small door at the bottom

enter, the thugs kicked the metal door

try to climb over the gate

startled by a chuckle from the

man in hospital attire grinning at

at her She quickly backed away and ran into the

dent dent num! The fat man

a hospital ward and hid under a bed. The chubby man found her reem quickly calling out for his bande’ while lifting

on the lights, and another started yelling, “Falso,

patient, awoken

began to wail

bed, baffled at the lack of staff intervention in this bizarre

voice grew louder. “I saw you come in

of the patients suggested, “Did you check under the

The next second, the fat man’s drooling face appeared under the bed, reaching out to

caught off guard by another man

the dim

faces of four other men in

had a crooked eye and

menacing look in his

constantly muttering gibberish

that was carved out of wood. He sneered

quickly intervened. “No, no way; she’s my gal! You

her!”

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

could clearly see the words

Chapter

She

house.