The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Jeffrey had always been a hothead, and Vivienne’s challenge sent him over the edge.

In a fit of rage, he hurled his phone at her, shouting, “Are you behind all this crap?”

Vivienne merely glanced at the phone lying on the floor, her elegant features cool and detached. She did not move an inch, just quietly observing Jeffrey.

At that moment, Percival stepped forward and crushed Jeffrey’s phone underfoot, swiftly turning it into a heap of electronic waste.

The next second, Jeffrey found himself unable to move. Panic crossed his face. “Vivienne, what the hell did you do to me?” His eyes bore into hers, but other than his eyes and his mouth, nothing else in his body responded to his mind.

With a casual flick of her hair behind her ear, Vivienne replied indifferently, “An eye for an eye. You have a problem with that?”

“You!”

Before Jeffrey could retort, Vivienne’s fingers twitched, and a silver needle flew from her fingertips.

Jeffrey’s words were instantly cut off.

Seeing the scene unfold, Henry realized his options were dwindling. The only path left was to plead with his father, Richard.

He dropped to his knees before Richard, begging, “Dad! I messed up. Please give me another chance. I swear I’ll never do this again. I can’t go to jail!

I just wasn’t thinking, Dad. Please, for all the years I’ve dedicated to our family business, forgive me this once.”

He knew the gravity of his situation.

The money he had embezzled over the years was enough to land him behind bars!

Richard placed his cane down and slowly sat on the couch, his aged face void of expression. “As of today, you are no longer welcome at the company, and don’t you dare show your face in this house again!”

Henry felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

Was Richard casting him out from the Ellington family?

the tax

get out of

your son! Fiona’s still suffering, Jeffrey’s still sick, and we have no means of income. You can’t just kick me out,

clung to Richard’s

away. “If it weren’t for this mess, would you still be

son was a wreck on the sofa, her husband was to

eyes landed on Vivienne, sitting there with a faint smile. She

wretch, this is all your fault! I’ll kill

a swift kick, Vivienne sent

long gash across her face. She always prized her beauty,

her hands and screamed,

at the

So annoying.

out with a flick of her wrist, silencing Heloise’s

Vivienne cleared her ears.

Much better.

could it not always

so, a bizarre scene unfolded in the Ellington household. There was crying without

son has broken the law,

officials stepped forward and escorted Henry

intervene, but her face ached, and her voice was gone; she could only watch as Henry was

had left, Percival gestured to the servants to remove Heloise and

dragged out of

people gone, peace returned

took his time to recover on the

on Richard’s hand to help him

that ungrateful son

sneaky dealings, but

face was disfigured because of the poison aimed at Percival; Percival wanted to keep a low profile; Richard was old, and his ideas were outdated. All of these reasons combined, Richard had decided to leave the business in the hands of his

of the company, while Henry and Ryan were kept away from crucial positions. To Richard, a little mischief was

as large as the Ellingtons, some were

true colors but