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.

pretty little thing like you to such a dangerous place

heard another one say, “What else could it

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

Arabella shrieked,

it!”

dialing 911 as she ran. “I need help! Three men are trying to

your exact

Arabella glanced behind her and saw that the men were

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

was unfamiliar with the East District, let alone the numerous groves. She was on the verge of

phone with the cops! Let’s finish

sneered. “Let’s have our fun, then sell her.

sped up, but the path ahead was pitch black. She had no idea where she was and could only run blindly with

ahead. It looked like a hospital. The small door at the bottom left of the main gate was half open. Without thinking, she dashed through and slammed it shut

Unable to enter, the thugs kicked the

surprised they didn’t try to climb over the gate or the wall. They

dark yard, startled by a chuckle from the

around to see a chubby man in hospital attire

as the man lunged at her She quickly backed away and

dent num! The fat man giggled while

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

the room were disturbed. Someone snapped on the lights, and

awoken by the

began to wail

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

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

one of the patients suggested, “Did you check under the

heart pounded in her chest. The next second, the fat man’s drooling face appeared under the bed, reaching

guard by another

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

faces of four other men in

had a crooked eye and a

menacing look

was constantly muttering

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

“No, no way; she’s my gal! You

her!”

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

glaring light, she could clearly

Chapter

lunged at her. She quickly backed away and

house.