The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

On the other side of town, Richard stormed into the bakery with his entourage and bought away every last cake on the shelves. Then, after snatching up a dozen blowguns, he charged towards the nursing home with fury in his eyes.

At that very moment, Baron Brooks was lounging comfortably in a deckchair, soaking up the sun and listening to an opera recording. Life without that pesky Richard was bliss!

Just as he reached for the glass of water on the side table, the door to his room burst open with a violent kick. Startled, he spilled water all over himself and was instantly enraged.

Whirling around, he saw Richard leading a posse with an air of vengeance, each one armed with cakes of all things.

Baron’ brow furrowed in anger, “What’s gotten into you, you old jerk? Why busting into my place with all those cakes?

Did Richard finally find his conscience and decide to throw him a birthday bash? He thought.

But that couldn’t be right; his birthday was months away, deep in December.

Baron braced himself as suspicious picked his nerves. What kind of nasty trick was Richard planning this time?

Richard merely glanced at him dismissively. Without bothering with a single word, he turned to his bodyguards with an order, “Let ’em have it!”

Before Baron could even grasp what was happening, the guns were loaded with cakes and, with a loud “BANG!”, and the pastries smashed precisely onto his bed.

Baron was furious as he bellowed, “Richard! Do you want to get yourself killed?!”

Ignoring his outburst, Richard stood in the center of the room, leaning on his cane with an air of unshakable calm.

The bodyguards fired the cakes one after another, and in moments, the walls, the ceiling, and the furniture in the room were all plastered with creamy shrapnel.

was apoplectic, so much so

were fired after a few

approval on seeing the disastrous room, “Perfect! Just what I

of blowing up the nursing home, but despite his rashness, he couldn’t muster the nerve. Ignoring the fact that he couldn’t

teach Baron a lesson. It simply wasn’t worth

much thought, the cake assault seemed like an excellent alternative, and the result was indeed satisfying. The room

in cake splatter; his clothes were a

this!” he shouted and lunged forward, but his foot slipped on a piece of cake, sending

him, his regular workouts saved him from a more serious

the sight, “That’s a lesson for you, old man. If you dare to mess with my granddaughter-in-law again, not only your room will be blasted the next time, but

me? Just try it and see

immediately, “Nonsense! Nobody bullied your

are we?” Richard’s smile was menacing. “Your family people had kicked my door to annul the wedding and you are still feigning innocence here. Do you need me

was taken aback, “Annulling the wedding?

father and mine arranging a marriage between the best of the Brooks and the Ellington heir. Are you daydreaming?” Richard’s gaze was

memories

the Brooks’ with that family. It didn’t

built and ruled, he had no say

situation but Richard paid them a visit just

had simmered down and

to why

stare bore into him, “I didn’t just disagree back then; I drafted a dissolution agreement, which you signed personally. Have you forgotten everything before sending yourself into the

the agreement reignited Baron’ fury, “You tricked me into signing that when I was drunk!

him out for drinks, got him sloshed, and made him sign that