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.

met Arabella for the first time, he felt distant,

Something felt off.

was hardly any resemblance between her, Karen, and him, except

Arabella’s scandals in Havenwood, he realized that she

shameful acts committed by a high school girl could be his

noble and kind woman. It was

of paternity tests, suspecting that Beatrice had tampered

disappointed him. Arabella

Judith cut in, halting their argument. “Since we’ve confirmed she’s a Brooks, we can’t let

school was already abuzz with the news, how could they salvage

she believed Arabella’s image in the eyes of the Brooks had significantly deteriorated. When Arabella returned from Havenwood, she wouldn’t

she couldn’t

sigh. “Since he was the one who took the child away, we have to hear his side of the

in such a manner. Even if he didn’t raise her, he would have

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

in Havenwood for now,” Judith decided. “She wanted to return there for her college

a close eye on her. We

are you sure Tristan will keep an

but her eyes showed

down on them,

claiming he owed her a debt and was willing to go through hell and

even got Ashley into trouble several times

considering Ashley’s comment, she turned to Scott, saying, “Maybe

Scott said, massaging his forehead in obvious

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

for his integrity, valued the Brooks family’s reputation above all else. Arabella’s antics were enough to make the Brooks the laughingstock of Rivenwood, ridiculed for

would need to extend

“Understood.”

family; even Ashley nodded in agreement, though she doubted they could keep it from her grandfather