The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Timothy was in disbelief.

He glanced at Scott and said urgently, “Come on, bro, can you please say something? Weren’t you the one who got the paternity test done? We all saw the results. They confirmed without a doubt that there’s a biological connection. Vivienne has been through a lot over the years, and now, with Calista back, she’s been put through the wringer again. If this turns into another wrong accusation, she’s going to lose all her love for the Brooks family.”

Scott turned to look at Vivienne. She sat there with the composure of a calm sea, unaffected by the astounding news.

It seemed this revelation was not even worth batting an eyelid over to her!

She was not just like Karen; she surpassed her!

Scott stayed silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a deep voice, “Mom, stop this nonsense. Vivienne is my daughter!”

Despite the nagging feeling inside him that Vivienne might not be his biological child, the evidence was clear.

Ten paternity tests had all confirmed the relationship. And the result of the eleventh was still pending.

This time, he had employed the services of Frostfire Intelligence Agency, a globally connected organization that would surely determine whether Vivienne was indeed his daughter.

Vivienne met his eyes and smiled – a smile enigmatic and profound.

Judith, on the other hand, was panicking. “No, she isn’t! I don’t know why the tests show that Vivienne is your biological daughter, but I know she’s not! She doesn’t resemble you at all! Look at Calista – her eyebrows, eyes, nose, they all look like you!”

In fact, she had secretly commissioned several paternity tests herself.

Yet, the results still confirmed the relationship between Scott and Vivienne.

She simply could not fathom why!

Her gut told her Vivienne was not Scott’s biological daughter, and her gut was rarely wrong!

was planning to steal Scott’s sperm for Mila,

like Mila was far from her ideal daughter-in-law.

could she drug Karen, arrange for

Her plans were flawless.

then Scott proposed

a fit of pique,

were disrupted. Judith could only watch the engagement unfold, waiting for a chance to get rid of

of the wedding,

Judith breathed a sigh of relief. Nonetheless, she feared Karen’s return, so she joined Scott in the search for her, only to discover that Karen had been pregnant

child, whether Scott’s or not, must never return to

all her schemes and defenses, she had never anticipated that Vivienne could be Karen’s

she known it would come to this, she never would have insisted

no room for doubt, “Enough. Vivienne is my daughter, and I won’t tolerate any more questioning

at Calista

What good was resemblance?

intelligence, cunning, or strategy, Calista could match Vivienne in

were unveiled by Vivienne, leading to the

just the beginning. Whether it would come back to haunt Calista remained to be seen. If

he addressed Judith, “Mom, from now on, you’re going to a church for some peace and reflection. Don’t worry about the house affairs anymore. The stewardship will be handed

You’re stripping

a cold look. “You’re getting old. It’s time for you to enjoy some

all for Karen, aren’t you? But I’ve always had your best

deny that the Karen she had underestimated had turned out to be a formidable power, her network of influence dwarfing that

the place she intended for her chosen daughter-in-law. Not Mila, but Holly,

wish for Scott to marry Holly was not out of affection for the girl, but rather, she wanted Holly to endure suffering in the Brooks family. She could only quell years

with Holly, who left Rivenwood, and vanished without a

Karen, not just for her background, but because Karen had interfered with the wedding she had almost

your belongings packed and you escorted away immediately,” Scott said,