The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Victoria’s eyes suddenly sharpened. “I don’t have all day to mess around with you. Hand over the recipe now! Kaitlyn, for the life of me, I can’t understand. You’ve guarded that worthless piece of paper for so long; the Littletons are gone, and yet you cling to it. What use is it to you? Hand it over to me, and if you’re cooperative, I’ll ensure your family has a normal life.”

Victoria had heard that Kaitlyn possessed a recipe that could bring the dead back to life.

She was determined to get her hands on it.

Kaitlyn, with Amelia held hostage by Walter, was torn inside, her face alternating between shades of pale and flushed.

After a long struggle, Kaitlyn bit her lip and looked up at Victoria, “The recipe is already with Ms. Hawthorn. Even if you kill us, it’s useless to you.”

Victoria’s face changed color, and then she lunged forward, gripping Kaitlyn’s throat, “Do you think I’m a fool, Kaitlyn? You would rather sell your blood than give it up! What did that Vivienne offer you to make you so compliant?”

Kaitlyn gasped for breath. “She helped me! Of course, I’d give it to her. Why would I give it to someone like you, a high and mighty venomous woman?”

“You’re asking for it!” Something in Victoria’s pain was triggered. Her grip on Kaitlyn’s neck tightened incrementally.

Just as Victoria almost lost her sanity and was about to strangle Kaitlyn, Walter whispered in her ear, “Madam, this isn’t wise.”

Victoria’s rationality was pulled back at the sound of Walter’s voice. Her eyes bore into Kaitlyn’s, trying to discern if she spoke the truth. Seeing Kaitlyn’s composed expression, she knew it was true.

She slowly released her grip and then turned to Tyler, her voice cold, “Tell me, did you really give it to Vivienne?”

Tyler nodded. “Yes! She gave us this villa and promised to protect us here in Rivenwood. Kaitlyn gave her the recipe because of that.”

Victoria’s face turned ashen with rage. She glared at Kaitlyn, teeth gritted. “Well played!”

Then, to Walter, she said, “Let’s go!”

Walter gently let Amelia go, which caught Kaitlyn by surprise. She had thought he would just drop her daughter.

outside, and only when Victoria was truly gone did Kaitlyn breathe a sigh of

pulled out her cell phone and called Vivienne. But after

turn to Tyler with worry, “Do you

pacing the room, “Victoria’s family, the Abernathy family, is one of the top five families. Even the

Ms. Hawthorn herself said if Victoria came knocking, we

this logic. Remembering Victoria’s expression when she left, Kaitlyn shivered,

the Ellington family. You’ve heard of the Ellingtons, right? Even the Abernathys, with all their power,

…

Meanwhile, at Percival’s apartment.

and were catching their

Percival, “Mr. Wolf, could you check

his eyes, sat up, and saw the names. His handsome brow furrowed slightly, “Samantha, that woman, is she from another planet? She was just at

“Samantha?”

to the name of

jumped up and moved next to

Matthew was clear and concise. She glanced at it and quickly stood up,

Percival asked, smiling as

meet my old adversary,”

strange number sitting in

What the heck?

who was playing

sensing her unease,

eyes landed on the message on Vivienne’s phone, and in an instant, his

that was

about; it was time to hit the showers