The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 272

Ashley looked up to see Percival, dressed in a black suit, standing beside a table laden with pastries. He was seemingly looking for something.

His tall stature, combined with his broad shoulders and narrow waist, was accentuated by the casual way he had his hand in his pocket. The half of his handsome face that was visible to her was uncharacteristically soft and had a hint of a smile. She wondered what he might be thinking.

Despite his unusually gentle demeanor right now, Ashley didn’t dare approach him

She remembered how Percival had humiliated Calista earlier. She also saw how Calista, upon entering the banquet hall, would occasionally glance Percival’s way without daning to strike up a conversation.

This man was cold to all women except Vivienne. She was certain that the reason he had a soft smile on his face right now was because he was thinking about Vivienne

She was right. Percival was indeed thinking about Vivienne

He was surveying the pastries on the table and found a piece of strawberry cake in the middle. Just as he was about to reach for it, another slender hand reached out and grabbed the plate. With one hand on each side of the plate, they both paused.

Percival looked up to find Aaron Miller, the handsome son of the Miller family’s patriarch, Mark. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t pay much attention to such a newcomer to the Rivenwood social circle

However, he had heard his cousin, Kenneth, talk about Aaron many times, and that had led him to remember the young man.

There was no way he could forget Kenneth and Aaron were both renowned E–sports players. They were both known as prodigal sons of the gaming world After Aaron turned pro at the age of fifteen, his team, under the guidance of a mysterious coach, won seven championships in a row, with Aaron himself being named the Most Valuable Player in each tournament.

In contrast, Kenneth, who also turned pro the same year, spent a year warming the bench before he became a starting player. Although his team eventually won two championships and he was named MVP twice, the compansons between him and Aaron never ceased, especially since Aaron’s team had a better record despite a string of defeats this season

People often said that Aaron was too loyal. He refused to transfer teams and was being held back by older players whose gaming skills were on the decline. If he were to join a better team, he could surely win another championship.

This was why Kenneth held a grudge against Aaron and would occasionally complain to Percival about him.

“It’s for my fiancee. She likes it Percival calmly told Aaron, not letting go of the plate.

was getting slightly impatient with waiting in the banquet hall. He realized he hadn’t seen his precious Vivienne for over eighteen hours. Even though they had video chatted at

himself, and remembering that his darling liked strawberry cake, he

hearing this, graciously let go of the plate and put his hands in his pockets

nodded slightly and left with the last piece of strawberry

and her group, he heard

know how to dress properly? He’s wearing a T–shirt and jeans to a formal event Eddy Miller should

That sounded familiar

jeans. His hands were in

and the attitude

not liking sweets when you were a kid. When did you start liking strawberry cake?” Mark asked

in a while who likes it Aaron replied with a smile. If

had brought Aaron to this event to introduce him to the circle of prominent families, but the boy didn’t leave him

seeing Percival arrive with the strawberry cake, Isolde chuckled. “I bet this cake

over isofde as a smirk played on her lips

as their daughter–in–law anymore, which would be a good thing for her Having someone who could cure

long are we supposed to wait for Vivienne to appear? Paul sneered He was growing more impatient by the second. “Even my

glance at Paul ‘Seems like I shouldn’t have helped you get your jaw back

met ”

cringed, and his mouth quickly snapped shut, but his eyes glittered with

arrived, don’t you think?” Mila had been hanging around Scott

but she kept clinging on. Not wanting to make a scene, he let her be, but his brow furrowed deeply every time she spoke

at

guests have mostly

hall immediately softened. Someone

for her