The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The scene was utter chaos. Gillian did not even see who yanked her away, and Patrick was besieged by a mob of angry parents demanding explanations.

Even the Boyds were not spared, with numerous hot-headed lads demanding to know why their sweethearts were suddenly engaged to someone else.

Amid the turmoil, Vivienne and Percival exchanged a knowing glance and could not help but chuckle.

Vivienne turned her head to Percival with a smile, “Mr. Wolf, is it just me, or do our engagement parties always seem to end in a ruckus?”

Percival took Vivienne’s hand, and they walked down from the stage side by side, “It seems the heavens are telling us we should marry sooner rather than later.”

Vivienne rested her head on Percival’s shoulder. “Is the betrothal gifts ready?”

Percival lightly tapped her nose. “Don’t worry, you’ve got me, lock, stock, and barrel!”

Patrick had to fight through the crowd to rescue Gillian from those who had lost their senses, and with the help of the bodyguards, they made it to the safety of the parking lot and away from the scene.

Safety, however, was a relative term. Gillian’s face bore the marks of slaps, her princess-like coiffure was a tangled mess resembling a bird’s nest, and her gown took the prints of several shoes, clear evidence of being trampled on.

Gillian had never imagined such a scenario. Although she had many men around her, none were boyfriends, and any talk of love or affection was just lip service.

She had them all under her thumb and had even fabricated excuses to prevent them from attending the engagement party with their parents.

How on earth did they all end up here?

And that video – who dug it out?

It was just a night at the bar playing games with some good-looking guys. How did it come to this?

“It had to be that Vivienne behind this. Dad, I swear I’ll destroy her!” Gillian shouted at the top of her lungs.

Patrick looked at his daughter and, in a fit of rage, slapped her across the face. His eyes were sharp as a hawk’s.

“Dad… You hit me?” Gillian looked at Patrick in disbelief.

her before, not even a poke, let

turned red with anger. “Tell

a striking

thought he was seeing his boss for a moment. She had to

father was more concerned about Vivienne’s identity than her

you care who she is? Just get rid of

Patrick massaged his temples, “Do you have any idea who you’ve

could she be that’s so important? Why are you afraid of

dare touch Vivienne again, you’ll answer to me!” With that, Patrick stepped out

to head

that Patrick could find Vivienne’s address since she

villa, Patrick saw Vivienne and Percival return, hand in

curved into a smirk as a cold glint passed

he draped his jacket over Vivienne’s shoulders, knowing it was not the right moment for him to

knelt on the ground before

the figure kneeling before her, her gaze indifferent. “Mr. Ashford, seems

we were to follow your orders. My daughter is young and foolish; I beg your forgiveness. I, Patrick, am

hands were in her pockets as she loomed over the kneeling Patrick,

her mentor and Dorian’s family, she had never encountered anyone related to her mother before she left the mountains. Those people certainly had not met her

ten years to find her, and neither

identified

was

no Ashford family today. Not just us, but the Pendletons and the Churchills within Rivenwood all owed allegiance to Boss. But after she passed, we

Vivienne remained silent.

in Havenwood when Matthew uncovered that there had been four families who had lost

had learned of her mother’s passing and set out to find her only daughter, determined to protect her. But by the time he arrived, Vivienne had already been taken in by her mentor, and William’s journey was in vain. Later, after leaving her mentor’s care, she saved William’s life, and in gratitude, he

the time, she did not know William’s connection to her mother. Not until they went to Havenwood and had Matthew dig into the past did she learn

not solely at Clara’s request. She was also curious about what the Churchill family was really after. Faye’s father and William shared a common goal:

Ashford family was the one group she had yet to make

looked up, eyeing Patrick intently, a flicker of something

me?” Vivienne asked,

“I’ve come to apologize, Madam, and to ask for your continued support of the Ashford family. We are willing to go through hell and high water for