The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As soon as Judith’s venomous confession left her lips, the Brooks family was struck dumb. A stunned silence filled the room, broken only by the clock ticking against the mahogany walls. No one could have imagined that Judith, the seemingly gentle and kind-hearted matron of the Brooks family, harbored such darkness in her soul.

Murder, born from the seeds of jealousy? And not just one, but ten lives snuffed out?

Baron, shaking with a barely contained rage, erupted. “You! You vile woman! Dahlia always treated you like a friend, and this is how you repay her!”

Judith’s twisted sneer was like a knife. “Friend? My dear Baron, I played the doting friend just to witness her fall from grace. It’s a pity, though…”

Her gaze shifted to Richard, her lips curling into a self-mocking smile. “Richard loved her too much. No matter my plots, he always stood by Dahlia, even when I drugged her, never once did he doubt her fidelity!”

She turned back to Baron, her eyes glinting with malice. “See? This is why she chose him over you. You would’ve never trusted her if you had been in his shoes.”

Baron growled, “Bullshit! Dahlia was flawless in my eyes. I would always stand by her, no matter what.”

Judith’s laugh was a bitter sound that cut through the room. “After all these years, I’ve toiled for this family, yet your heart never held a place for me. Even now, you sing Dahlia’s praises. But what good does that do? She’s dead! I burned her beyond recognition. And her friends? They’re gone, too, casualties of her downfall. Ha!”

Her laughter devolved into unhinged cackles. “You’re here to settle scores? To what end? Your so-called evidence can’t pin anything on me. Even knowing I’m the murderer, you’re powerless, Baron. Your hatred changes nothing. You’ll still have to face me every day.”

“You!” Baron, furious, swung at her, but Judith caught his wrist with a strength that belied her appearance. “You think I’m helpless? If not for my love for you, the things you’ve done to me would have sealed your fate ten times over!”

a swift movement, she threw Baron

Baron back to his feet. As Baron stood, he looked at Judith in shock. “You know how to

irony was not lost on him. He had prided himself on being perceptive, yet he had never suspected her of such fighting skills. She had indeed played

to know a little self-defense in the Brooks family or be left to wither.

to Richard. “Richard, the Brooks family

test might say Scott’s the father, but I don’t buy it. Step out of line, and you’ll find no place in the Brooks family. But since you’re now

but thread lightly.” Judith tossed her cane aside, adjusting her hair with an air of finality. “I’ve played this charade for years. It’s liberating to drop

laugh at the spectacle, looking at Judith like looking at an idiot. In the face of her unraveling,

pockets, raised an eyebrow.

smile was

confession with a triumphant glint in her eye. “We’ve got all

rage erupted. “You

rage toward Baron blinding her to the threat of modern technology. She had believed their evidence insufficient but had

you the evidence on a silver platter? This recording is

about a crime so many years ago was difficult. Back then, Percival was still young, and he had mistaken Judith for a kind and gentle lady. Plus, given the limited technology back then and the fact

Judith began when she insisted that Calista tutor Thaddeus. It was then that he and Vivienne had

felt there was something off about Judith, so

up evidence from years ago was

restore a key piece of evidence – a phone call from

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