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.

when he met Arabella for the first time, he felt distant, even

Something felt off.

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

Arabella’s scandals in Havenwood, he realized that she had ruined her reputation there before seeking

believe the news of the shameful acts committed by a

was impossible for her to raise such a

ordered another round of paternity tests, suspecting that Beatrice had tampered

results disappointed him. Arabella

cut in, halting their argument. “Since we’ve confirmed she’s a Brooks, we

her high school was already abuzz with

image in the eyes of the Brooks had significantly deteriorated. When Arabella returned from Havenwood, she

thinking of this, she couldn’t

“Since he was the one who took the

Finnian’s character, he wouldn’t raise Karen’s daughter in such

Judith didn’t mention it, he would find Finnian to discover the truth about Karen’s death. If she was murdered, he would avenge her.

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

“Tell Tristan to keep a close eye on her. We

laughing. “Grandma, are you sure Tristan

but her eyes showed

was like a mad dog, always looking down on them, the pampered children

he followed her around like a puppy, claiming he owed her a debt and was willing to go through hell and high

got Ashley into trouble several times while

comment, she turned to Scott,

care of it.” Scott said,

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

above all else. Arabella’s antics were enough to make the Brooks the laughingstock of Rivenwood, ridiculed for welcoming such a badly behaved individual

would need to extend

“Understood.”

nodded in agreement, though she doubted they