The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gillian’s words hung unfinished as Percival suddenly stood up and gestured towards someone in the distance. “Vivienne, over here!”

Gillian blinked in surprise. Vivienne?

What on earth was Vivienne doing here?

Should she not be back at the Boyd estate, caring for Wendy, who was bedridden?

Gillian turned to see Vivienne stride in, decked out in a leather biker jacket, her hair cascading down her back, helmet in hand.

The very epitome of cool and spicy!

Vivienne walked over, placed her helmet on the table, and pecked Percival on the lips in front of Gillian without a second thought.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“Not at all. You’re just in time.” Percival took her hand and pulled her close, seating her at the table and sliding a freshly cut steak in front of her. “Just cut it for you, eat up.”

“Thanks, Mr. Wolf.” Vivienne grinned and dug into the steak with gusto.

Percival ruffled her hair affectionately, then turned to Gillian. “So, what were you saying?”

Gillian clenched the tablecloth beneath the table, her knuckles turning white with tension, the veins in her hands standing out starkly. Yet, for the sake of her image, she maintained a strained smile.

“I was suggesting maybe the wedding bash should be in Sea City before heading back to Rivenwood for the ceremony.”

Gillian did not believe for a second that Vivienne could be oblivious to the implications of her words. After all, she was the one the Boyd family had accepted as their future granddaughter-in-law!

Percival smirked. “Vivienne and I only want a ceremony in Rivenwood. Sea City? We don’t really have relatives there.”

Gillian nearly bit through her lip. “Mr. Ellington, you must be misunderstanding something. Our parents have arranged this meeting of ours, and that’s why we’re here.”

Percival’s smile turned cold. “The reason we’re here isn’t some family setup. I wanted to make it clear: Vivienne is my fiancée. I did not introduce her properly last time, but you get the picture this time, right?”

Tears rimmed Gillian’s eyes. She could not believe Percival could be so heartless.

What was so special about Vivienne?

who worked for their kind of aristocracy, a country bumpkin who thought a bit

nothing but a

under to choose Vivienne over

a top-notch family in Sea City. Even the well-rooted Boyds had

a country

Gillian was certain she did not

Was Percival blind?

mouth with a napkin and noticed Gillian’s untouched steak. “Ms. Ashford, your steak will lose its flavor if

Gillian’s eye as she

her indifference, Vivienne shrugged. “Suit

wrapping an arm around her

“Ms. Ashford, you might want to

tightened, her

not over. Vivienne

yanked the tablecloth, toppling the candle

over Gillian, igniting as the

“Ah! Help!”

lightweight, flammable dress caught fire instantly, but quick-thinking waitstaff doused the flames with an extinguisher, sparing her

far more than intended, including

have thought such an innocent-looking girl would wear

Gillian clutched her clutch bag close, barely covering herself until a waiter kindly offered his

a word

herself

never

father, Patrick Ashford, concerned by her cries, knocked gently on her door. “Gillian,

Vivienne’s gone too far. Please, make her

the mention of

it be

listening to me? I’ve been humiliated, and

present. “Gillian, this

all she is. A regular Jane Doe, Mara said it herself. No parents to speak of, and she still dares to vie for my man. Dad, I want you to put her in her place.

in

had always been the pampered princess of the

modest family in Havenwood, Patrick had hustled tirelessly for the family business, taking any job to pay the bills.Books