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.

shot him a look and then turned to Henry, who had been silently listening to the conversation, cup in hand. “Dad, what

down his cup, “I agree with your mother. We’re all blood relatives here and Percival’s been chosen as the heir by the old man himself. He’ll have far more than us in the

sly smile, “Even

“What do you mean?”

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 taxes and swapping quality materials for subpar

Henry stiffened.

throw him in jail. Or worse, he

spoke slowly with furrowed eyebrows, “I’ll arrange for the money to

exclaimed in

money so easily, what would

weren’t for your foolish plagiarism stunt, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Henry

over the money. Besides, they have no proof of your misdeeds. Even if it gets to Grandpa, we

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

Henry long enough to trust him at

she too nodded

unfold, Jeffrey couldn’t help

his parents to give

siding with Percival

was powerless to stop

…

later, Calista was discharged from the

called the family to

busy with Percival, playing with anime figurines

was stuck at

considerably over the past few

announcement, Vivienne

welcome party without

to see Calista striding