The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gillian’s scream pierced the silence of the night, startling her from her dreams into a gasping reality as she fell to her knees on the floor, breath heaving in her chest.

“Mr. Ellington, Mr. Ellington…” She gasped.

Patrick rushed to his daughter’s side, steadying her with a firm grip. “Gillian, are you alright?” He asked, concern written all over his face.

Confusion clouded Gillian’s eyes as she noticed the cluster of people around her, her last memory of being tucked into bed by Percival, wrapped in a cozy comforter.

She was quick to react, though, sobbing as she collapsed into her father’s arms. “Dad, I… with Mr. Ellington, we’ve already… We’ve…”

Her words hung in the air, leaving an unspoken understanding among the gathered crowd.

The sight of a naked beauty would test any man’s resolve, and poor Yannick had been dealt a rough hand, his legacy usurped by another.

A flicker of rage crossed Patrick’s eyes as he turned to Percival, his voice rising in anger. “Percival, what do you have to say for yourself? You animal!”

Mara quickly came to the defense. “Mr. Patrick, there were drugs in the room. It was not intentional; it was the drugs that took control. Just think about how Gillian was acting!”

Gillian clung to her father’s hand. “Dad, I remember bits and pieces. Mr. Ellington saved me from Yannick. We tried to leave, but… I smelled something strange. Even though my mind was clear, our bodies would not listen…

It’s not Mr. Ellington’s fault. It’s all Yannick’s doing. Really, it’s not his fault.”

Tears streamed down Gillian’s face as she clutched the blanket. “Dad, I’m so ashamed.”

Mara, with tears in her eyes, looked at Percival. “Bro, it was Gillian’s first time. You can’t just abandon her.”

Patrick was at a loss, torn between anger and the need to comfort his daughter. He looked at Percival with a mixture of anger and pleading. “Mr. Ellington, given the circumstances, if you don’t take responsibility, Gillian will have no future.”

“Yeah, Percival, we can’t just leave things like this.”

Their performance could have outshone even the likes of Meryl Streep and Anthony Hopkins.

Vivienne smirked. “Ms. Ashford, ever heard of Rainbow Entertainment? If you’re interested in signing, I’ll have someone contact you.”

A talent like Gillian’s could not be wasted. She could cry on cue, immerse herself in the role—who would not be enticed?

was a money-making machine, not just a

how

completely, and absolutely

“You should ask Vivienne how much she

completely, and absolutely in

wiped away her tears. “Ms. Hawthorn, what are

such a young age? Need me to give you another shot?” Vivienne’s lips curled in amusement as she watched

passed through Gillian’s eyes. “Vivienne! I know you’re upset about me and Mr. Ellington, but I would never lie about my reputation. I remember

nodded, then turned to Mara. “Are you

change her story now and nodded in

Gillian. And it’s true, Percival was the only one

again. “I see! Well, I have

with her hand, and Anna handed her a sleek tablet that was not available on

crowd was baffled, having no idea where the

times, and soon, a high-definition video began to

with Mr. Ellington, we can blame it

that Vivienne out of the

and Mara’s conversation, even filtering out

Gillian nor Mara could have anticipated that their private exchange

Percival with righteous indignation, now felt the weight of shame. His daughter had drugged a man to

would be

Teresa and Theodore breathed a sigh of relief. They had been present from the start of Yannick’s troubles but had kept out of sight, fearful of Patrick’s

chance for a counterattack, perhaps even to implicate Gillian

not. Thus, they could totally

Percival and Vivienne, it looked like their chance for

the priority was to

and pushed her way through the crowd, ready to defend her

little sluts, framing my boy like that!” Teresa fumed, her voice a tempest of maternal fury. “I knew there was no way he’d just pass out for no reason. You’re scared of getting caught, so you knock him out? Well, let’s

lioness’s fury, Teresa lunged at Gillian and Mara, her hands entangling in

were both still reeling in confusion when the sharp pain snapped them to

threw them to

exposed and

to intervene, but his