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.

need to discuss this with my family 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 and Heloise Ellington,

Vivienne nodded, “Agreed”

made a call to the National Gallery’s secretary, and soon after, the team that had come

stormed off, neglecting the gallery’s guests. He had to get back and convince his parents not to release the funds.

took her leave after she

and Vivienne made to leave too. But they were suddenly

purchase that painting from

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

palpable authority. His aged, cloudy eyes seemed sharp as they fixed

“This painting

man replied, “but you wouldn’t sell the original, would you?”

smiled and nodded,

painting feels familiar to me I’d like to buy it to help find her,” the old man disclosed without reservation. “I hope you

to me

the person in

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

behind her ear, the old man recounted his voice was tinged with a hint of melancholy “My lost daughter has a mole in the same place Even though it might not

Vivienne’s grip on the painting tightened. “Your

Perez‘ 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 here to

taken aback

was a beautiful name

meeting anyone named Sasha, yet the

Chapter.

won’t insist. But I heard you say the person in the portrait was your mother, who has passed. Is that correct?”

man could

his words, the old man apologized, “I’m sorry to have touched a raw nerve.”

fine,” Vivienne replied softly, her thoughts

is in the exact spot as my daughter’s. May I ask if you know much about your maternal grandparents?”

Vivienne’s voice suddenly turned cold, “are in prison!”

mother had caused their incarceration personally.

had started their flight from the past that her mother took her to visit her family in the

encounter with her maternal relatives, and it revealed a harsh truth: some parents truly can be indifferent