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?

about the

get out

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

to

you still be here

was dumbfounded. Her son was a wreck on the sofa, her husband was to be taken away, and her daughter was still

there with a faint

this is all your fault!

a swift kick, Vivienne sent

slicing a long gash across her face. She always prized her beauty, and

her hands and

at the

So annoying.

flew out with a flick of her

Vivienne cleared her ears.

Much better.

could it not

was crying without tears, bleeding

before addressing the tax officials. “Officers, my son has broken the law, and the Ellington family

stepped forward and escorted

voice was gone; she could only watch as Henry was taken

officials and Henry had left, Percival gestured to the servants

dragged

troublesome people gone, peace

fuming, took his time to recover

points on Richard’s hand to

dear, we owe you a great debt today. If not for you, who knows how long that ungrateful son of mine might have kept me in the dark!” Richard thought of Henry’s misdeeds and

sneaky dealings, but since the sums were

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

trusted Nathan implicitly and had given him the reins of the company, while Henry and Ryan were kept

family as large as the Ellingtons, some

knew his sons’ true colors but just