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

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

her. “Well then, we’ll keep

lost!’ Arabella shrieked, dodging

ungrateful wench! You’ll regret it!” One

911

please provide your exact location?” A dispatcher

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

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

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

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

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

path ahead was pitch black.

hospital. The small door at the bottom left of the main gate was half open. Without thinking, she

Unable to enter, the thugs kicked the metal door and walked

over the gate or the wall. They

startled by a chuckle

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

lunged at her She quickly backed

The fat man giggled

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

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

patient, awoken

began to wail

under the bed, baffled at the lack of staff intervention in

voice grew louder. “I saw you

patients suggested, “Did you check

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

a piercing scream, attempting to back away, but was caught off guard by

onto the cold floor. Using the dim light provided,

faces of four other men

crooked eye

had a menacing

muttering gibberish under his

brandishing a crude knife that was carved out of wood.

chubby, cross-eyed man quickly intervened. “No, no way; she’s my gal! You can’t

her!”

would be to devour her straight

the glaring light, she could clearly see

Chapter

man lunged at her. She quickly

house.