The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 351

Jeffrey’s eyes bulged in disbelief, and for a long moment, he struggled to process what he had just heard.

After a brief pause, he snapped back to reality and roared at Fiona Ellington, “Are you out of your mind? Ten billion dollars to them? Do we look like we’re running a charity here?”

With ten billion dollars, you could open a string of world–class art galleries! He thought.

Fiona must have lost her marbles by giving out such an astronomical number.

Fiona shot him an icy glance before turning to Vivienne and Percival, “Give me an account number. I’ll transfer the funds to you!”

She wasn’t offering this fortune for Jeffrey’s sake, but to keep Percival and Vivienne from dismantling the other art galleries.

Some of the galleries Jeffrey had established were a front for under–the–table dealings, which were secrets that outsiders must never uncover. It was a network she had painstakingly built, hidden from her entire family.

Even Jeffrey, the supposed head, was clueless about it.

If these secrets were ever exposed, she’d stand to lose up to thirty billion dollars.

When weighed against ten billion, it was a no–brainer. She had to protect those assets.

And Fiona didn’t buy for a second that Percival could go after her family without a reason.

Mr. Percy’s stature alone had put him at the zenith of power; he wouldn’t bat an eyelid at a few art galleries, let alone a few hundred billion

Yet, he was insistent on tearing down the galleries. She suspected he knew something.

It seemed Percival had to go. His very existence was the most significant threat to her.

With Percival around, the inheritance wouldn’t fall into her hands even if the old man died. Not to mention that Richard Ellington was still alive

If Percival were out of the picture, the other Ellington nonentities wouldn’t stand a chance against her.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow and her gaze harbored meaning. “Alright!”

She promptly provided her account details.

first, given the sum involved. You’ll have the money by tonight at the latest!” Fiona declared confidently. It seemed that she was not the least bit worried about whether her parents, Henry

Vivienne nodded, “Agreed”

call to the National Gallery’s secretary, and soon after, the team that

hand over ten billion dollars. He stormed off, neglecting the gallery’s guests. He had to get back and convince his parents not

took her leave after she she nodded to Percival and Vivienne

too.

I purchase that painting from

elderly man leaning on a cane; his hair was almost entirely white with just a

be in his seventies, dressed modestly but exuding a palpable authority.

responding. “This

the old man replied, “but you wouldn’t

smiled and nodded,

me I’d like to buy it to help find her,” the old man disclosed

to me

the person

merely a figure from the back, and only someone who knew the individual very well could identify it

voice was tinged with a hint of melancholy “My lost daughter has a mole in the same place Even though it might not be her,

on the painting

the old man said as his tears welled up I’ve been searching for her for thirty years without a trace. I heard the might have come to Rivenwood recently, so I’m

taken aback

a beautiful name

recall meeting anyone named Sasha, yet the name felt

Chapter.

reluctant to sell, I won’t insist. But I heard you say the person in the portrait was your

the old man could finish, Vivienne

old man apologized, “I’m sorry to have touched a

replied softly, her

may be so bold, the mole behind your mother’s ear is in the exact spot as my daughter’s. May I ask if you know much

suddenly turned cold, “are

caused

flight from the past that

it revealed a harsh truth: some parents truly can be indifferent