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.

never hit her before, not

face turned red with anger. “Tell me, who

saw a striking

he was seeing his boss for a moment. She had to be the missing daughter

father was more concerned

she is? Just

his temples, “Do you have any idea who you’ve crossed? If Vivienne really is

“Whose daughter could she be that’s so important? Why are

understand. Go home and forget about Percival. If you dare touch Vivienne again, you’ll answer to me!” With that, Patrick stepped out of the car and instructed the driver to take Gillian

to head directly

not surprising that Patrick could find Vivienne’s address

hours outside the villa, Patrick saw Vivienne and Percival return,

as a cold glint

over Vivienne’s shoulders, knowing it was not the right moment for

Percival left, Patrick knelt on the ground before her.

looked down at the figure kneeling before her, her gaze indifferent. “Mr. Ashford,

your orders. My daughter is young and foolish; I beg your forgiveness. I, Patrick, am willing

in her pockets as she loomed over the

she had never encountered anyone related to her mother before she left the

and neither the

Patrick had identified her at

Ashford family was indeed full of

just us, but the Pendletons and the Churchills within Rivenwood all

Vivienne remained silent.

were her mother’s allies, a fact she only learned after arriving in Havenwood when Matthew uncovered that there had been four families

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

not know William’s connection to her mother. Not until they went to Havenwood and had Matthew dig

was also curious about what the Churchill family was really after.

the one group she had

up, eyeing Patrick intently, a flicker of something unreadable passing through

you to me?” Vivienne asked, her tone

his lips nervously. “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