The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 159

Ashley zipped her lips this time, her objective having been accomplished. With each word she had uttered, the countenance of the Brooks family members had darkened bit by bit.

They had already considered the possibility that Arabella was after their fortune.

“When we sent out invitations announcing the wedding of Scott, the news of his wife, Karen’s departure a day before the wedding. left us flabbergasted.” Timothy complained bitterly. “Our family became the laughing stock of all Rivenwood. It seems like mother like daughter.”

“Dad.” Timothy’s son Ronald interjected, eyeing Scott’s expression and halting his father from further comments.

Scott, with his hand supporting his temple, seemed to be lost in memories.

When Karen disappeared just before their wedding, all the Brooks were convinced she had betrayed him. However, he had always felt that wasn’t the case.

He knew that when he rescued the severely injured Karen, her background was more impressive than he could have ever guessed. Even the Brooks‘ resources couldn’t unearth her past.

Being the eldest son of the Brooks family, he was well–versed in the ways of the world. He knew not to involve himself with dangerous individuals.

Yet he fell in love with Karen. Despite her reluctance to discuss her past and the secrets she kept from him, he proposed to her.

And she left him without a word.

Why?

They loved each other so much. She was even pregnant with his child.

Over the years, he never gave up searching for Karen. When the news of Arabella’s existence reached him, he found out that Karen had been dead for many years.

That day, he felt his heart shatter. Amid his grief, he was grateful that Karen left him their child.

He swore to treat their daughter well, to give her the best of everything, and to make her a princess to compensate for the nineteen years they lost.

Arabella for the first time, he felt distant,

Something felt off.

there was hardly any resemblance between her, Karen, and

Havenwood, he realized that she had ruined her reputation there

shameful acts committed by a high school girl could be his and

was impossible for her to raise such a

paternity tests, suspecting

him.

in, halting their argument. “Since we’ve confirmed she’s a Brooks, we can’t let the rumors continue. Let’s find a

disdainfully. If her high school was already abuzz with the news,

believed Arabella’s image in the eyes of the Brooks had

she couldn’t help

Finnian.” Judith suggested with a sigh. “Since he was the one who took the child away, we

Brooks. Given Finnian’s character, he wouldn’t raise Karen’s daughter in such a manner. Even if

would find Finnian to discover the truth about Karen’s death. If she was murdered, he would avenge her.

wanted to return there for her college entrance exam. By

Tristan to keep a close

“Grandma, are you sure Tristan will keep

her eyes

dog, always looking down on them, the pampered children of the Brooks

Arabella returned, he followed her around like a puppy, claiming he owed her a debt and was willing to go

Ashley into trouble several times

Tristan’s excessive compliance with Arabella. After considering Ashley’s comment, she turned to Scott, saying, “Maybe we should send someone to keep

said,

hear about this.” Judith sternly instructed. “He’s been having some

were enough to make the Brooks the laughingstock of Rivenwood, ridiculed for welcoming such a badly behaved individual into their

was likely he would need to extend his stay at the

“Understood.”

objections from the Brooks family; even Ashley nodded in agreement, though she doubted they