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!

planning to steal Scott’s sperm for Mila,

far from her ideal daughter-in-law. At

child could she drug Karen, arrange for someone to sleep with her, and drive

Her plans were flawless.

Scott

a fit of

unfold, waiting for a

the day of

and 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

Scott’s or not,

schemes and defenses, she had never anticipated that Vivienne could be

never would have insisted

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

Calista intensified with

What good was resemblance?

intelligence, cunning, or strategy, Calista could

schemes were unveiled by Vivienne,

come back to haunt Calista remained to be seen. If not for Calista’s

surveyed the room, his expression stern as 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

“What? You’re stripping

old.

you’re up to. You’re doing this all for Karen, aren’t you? But I’ve always had your best interests

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

usurped the place she

not out of affection for the girl, but rather, she wanted Holly

after that incident, Richard cut ties with Holly, who left Rivenwood, and vanished without a trace. The Ellington

but because Karen had interfered with the

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