The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Jeffrey felt a pang of embarrassment somehow. After all, painting was his pride and joy, his claim to fame.

But now, having been publicly called out by Vivienne for plagiarism, he also faced the mortifying task of confessing this to his parents. It was the ultimate disgrace.

As Heloise and Fiona watched him with piercing gazes, Jeff’s irritation boiled over into anger, “So I copied Vivienne’s painting, then what? How was I supposed to know she was Eulalia? If I had known, I wouldn’t have copied it!”

“Plagiarism?” Heloise looked bewildered. “How did plagiarism come into this?”

She believed in her son’s talent. Though she was no art connoisseur, Jeff’s paintings were always a delight to the eye.

Jeffrey explained the whole fiasco to her.

Heloise’s brows knitted together in an instant, “It’s just a painting! Why is she being so aggressive? She’s marrying into the Ellington family, for heaven’s sake. Does making us pushovers do good to her?”

Fiona glanced at her and then settled herself on the couch, saying coolly, “I don’t know what good she wants get. But we must pay the money.”

Heloise was instantly resistant, “The money is ours. If we don’t want to pay, what’s she going to do? Twist our arms?”

This wasn’t just a million or two.

Handing the ten billion would leave their family penniless.

Jeffrey nodded in agreement, “Exactly! We’re not paying. What can she possibly do about it?”

Fiona’s eyes flickered with a chill. “So, you want to let them shut down the galleries?” she retorted.

“It’s just a few galleries; if they close, they close!” Judith dismissed the concern. “Worst comes to worst, I’ll just open new ones for my son!”

Fiona scoffed derisively, “Huh. If you want to see my brother ruined, then don’t pay.”

Heloise wasn’t listening. The thought of handing ten billion to someone else made her physically uncomfortable. “I don’t care; there’s no way I’m parting with that money,” she stated.

“Right, with ten billion, you could open countless galleries. I won’t let Percival and Vivienne get the best of us,” Jeffrey added.

had been silently listening to the conversation, cup in hand. “Dad, what

all blood relatives here and Percival’s been chosen as the heir by the old man himself. He’ll have far more than us

curved into a sly smile, “Even if it means

do you mean?” he

photo, and handed it to Henry, “I found this in Percival’s room. He’s investigating you! Dad, what do you think Grandpa would do if he found out you’ve been evading

Henry stiffened.

would not hesitate to throw him in jail. Or worse, he

a moment, Henry spoke slowly with furrowed eyebrows, “I’ll

exclaimed in

money so easily, what would become

mouth! If it weren’t for your foolish plagiarism

to happen, but we also don’t need to just hand over the money. Besides,

icy, “We have no case! They’ll

“Honey?” Heloise sounded worried.

it’s only temporary. In the end, it’ll all come back to us.” Henry soothed

to trust him at the most fundamental

she too

this unfold, Jeffrey couldn’t help but seethe

Fiona’s few words could convince his parents

Fiona siding with

he was

…

Calista was

family to

Percival, playing with anime figurines

was stuck at school

had perked up considerably over the past

Scott’s announcement, Vivienne

welcome party without

only to see Calista