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?

machine, not just a drama

“Vivienne, just how

“Utterly, completely, and absolutely

should ask Vivienne how

“Utterly, completely, and absolutely

her tears. “Ms. Hawthorn,

of hearing at such a young age? Need me to give you

Mr. Ellington, but I would never lie about my reputation. I remember what happened, and

Mara. “Are you absolutely sure what Gillian is saying

she could not change her

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

Well, I have something interesting here. Care to take a

hand, and Anna handed her a sleek tablet that was

no idea where the tablet

screen a few times, and soon,

had my way with Mr. Ellington,

to get that Vivienne out of the way and ensure you marry Percival. Be careful,

conversation, even filtering out the background noise so every word was

Mara could have anticipated that their private exchange would

felt the weight of shame. His daughter had drugged a

reputation would

Theodore breathed a sigh of relief. They had been present from the start of Yannick’s troubles but had kept out of

saw a chance for a counterattack, perhaps even to implicate Gillian

had drugged Gillian or not. Thus, they could

it looked like their chance for

now, the priority was

way through the crowd, ready to defend

fury. “I knew there was no way he’d just pass out for no reason. You’re scared

and Mara,

when the sharp pain snapped them to the harsh reality. There was no

frighteningly strong, and she threw them to the ground without breaking a

and now she lay exposed and defenseless as Teresa pinned her down and slapped

his body