The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The online community was in an uproar when the police released evidence incriminating Judith. Her once-loyal supporters fell into a stunned silence, quickly drowned out by a chorus of angry voices.

Emotions ran high as people flooded the Brooks Corporation’s official website with vitriol, and the personal social media accounts of every member of the Brooks family were bombarded with harsh comments.

Kala and Darren, both celebrities, saw their careers take a massive hit as endorsement deals and acting roles evaporated overnight. Companies severed ties, leading roles were recast, and they faced the grim prospect of paying hefty breach-of-contract fines.

The Brooks Corporation’s stock plummeted as the scandal unfolded.

Families of Dahlia’s friends, who had perished alongside her, led online campaigns against the Brooks, who became pariahs, struggling to navigate the storm of public outrage.

Stepping outside became a challenge for the Brooks family. In the end, it was Ronald who slipped out to discreetly purchase funeral items for a simple service at home for Judith. But when it came time to transport her body for cremation, they found the mansion besieged, unable to move past the crowd.

…

In Percival’s downtown loft, Vivienne sat with Dorian, Cordelia, and Thaddeus, all glued to the live broadcast of the Brooks’ predicament.

Thaddeus had been staying with Percival since before the family reunion, and since leaving the Brooks mansion, Vivienne had not looked back.

Watching the chaos unfold on TV, Thaddeus turned to Vivienne, his confusion apparent. “Sis, did Judith really kill these people?”

Vivienne had been the one to introduce Thaddeus to Charlotte, who had helped stabilize his emotions with her tutoring. As a result, Thaddeus was largely sheltered from the darker aspects of life and had little understanding of death and violence.

Gently patting his head, Vivienne softly confirmed, “Yes, she did.”

“But why did they have to shoot her? Her death will make the family sad,” Thaddeus questioned, innocence in his wide eyes.

Vivienne pressed her lips together, her voice still gentle. “She made a mistake, and death was the price she had to pay.”

It was unknown if Thaddeus understood, but he looked at the exhausted appearance of Kala and her family on the screen and said with empathy, “Kala must be sad, right?”

sight and looked at the

attempting to drive Judith’s body to the crematorium, only to be encircled by a furious mob at the gates of

Ronald, was spared.

such a colossal change so quickly. Like a walking corpse,

changed slightly, her expression

witnessing the scene, Cordelia expressed her concern for Vivienne, saying,

Cordelia was about to say and replied preemptively, “Mr. Wolf will

from the Judith scandal, which had

had ordered him to let go of Calista without explaining the reason behind it, and Percival was

deserved it. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Kala and

took on more than she should. Despite her tough exterior, Vivienne had a soft spot for people who treated her

replied with a

once-glorious Brooks family… Now

the Brooks family as a whole. But the public backlash had been fierce, proving

fall,” Vivienne said calmly, causing

want to help them?” He

and replied, “They don’t need my

had once planned to lend a helping hand when the Brooks family was about to collapse for the sake of Kala. Now,

no idea what Vivienne’s response

the TV where the crowd was assailing the Brooks family, and assured

a

later, a fleet of police cruisers rolled up to the Brooks Mansion, lights flashing in the dusk. Officers swarmed the

depart and make

the situation had settled,

noticed Percival lurking at the edge of the room, evidently itching to speak. Thus, she stood up and approached him, asking, “What’s

and Cordelia before

not meant

following him into the