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,

how

“Utterly, completely, and absolutely

Vivienne how much she loves

absolutely in love

away her tears. “Ms. Hawthorn, what are

me to give

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

turned to Mara. “Are you absolutely sure what Gillian is saying

nervous, knew she could not change her story now and

the only one there. Now that

nodded again. “I see! Well, I have something interesting here.

her hand, and Anna handed her a sleek tablet that

crowd was baffled, having no idea where the

times, and

way with Mr. Ellington, we can blame it on Yannick. All you need to

that Vivienne out of the way and ensure you marry Percival. Be

of Gillian and Mara’s conversation, even filtering out the background noise so

could have anticipated that their private

ready to confront Percival with righteous indignation, now felt the weight of shame. His daughter had

would

of relief. They had been present from the start of Yannick’s troubles but

a chance for a counterattack, perhaps

Thus, they could totally say that

and Vivienne, it looked like their chance for revenge would

priority

sleeves and pushed her way through the crowd, ready

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

Gillian and Mara, her hands entangling in their hair like

pain snapped them to the harsh reality. There was

threw them to the ground without

exposed and defenseless as Teresa pinned her down

his body was