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 how

completely,

ask Vivienne how much

“Utterly, completely, and absolutely

wiped away her tears. “Ms.

to give you another shot?” Vivienne’s

you’re upset about me and Mr. Ellington, but I would never lie about my reputation. I remember what happened, and there’s no need to frame Mr.

then turned to Mara. “Are you

not change her story now and nodded

it’s true, Percival was the only one

I have something interesting

tablet that was not available on the market, foldable to the

crowd was baffled, having no idea where the tablet

screen a few times, and

send Yannick away, and I’ll place the hallucinogenic drugs in the room. Once I’ve had my way with Mr. Ellington, we can blame it on Yannick. All you need

of the way and ensure you

and Mara’s conversation, even filtering out the

Mara could have anticipated that their private exchange would be recorded

now felt the weight

would be tarnished for

been present from the start

a chance for a counterattack, perhaps even to

drugged Gillian or not. Thus, they could

like their chance

now, the priority was to save

and pushed her way through the crowd, ready to

that!” Teresa fumed, her voice a tempest of maternal fury. “I knew there was no way he’d just

lunged at Gillian and Mara,

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

frighteningly strong, and she threw them to the ground without

at a disadvantage, and now she lay exposed and defenseless as Teresa pinned

but his body was frozen in