The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gavin's eyes flashed a warning as he glanced at Victoria, "Since we've given our word to the Grimshaws, we can't break it. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many times you've visited them-it won't do any good."

He signaled to Harrison, who immediately stepped forward to help Sophie up, "Miss Sophie, Victoria speaks her mind. Don't take offense. Better get up from the floor-it's cold, and you wouldn't want to catch a chill. Dad would be worried sick."

"Get lost-I don't need your help."

Sophie shook off Harrison's hand with a defiant look. She wasn't foolish.

Wasn't Harrison's remark just a blatant admission that Victoria was right?

Everyone looked down on her, including her own father, who always claimed to love her the most!

Was it just because Victoria held the title of the legitimate daughter?

If it weren't for her mother's relentless pursuit, that status should have rightfully been hers!

Biting her lower lip in frustration, she said, "Dad, I was just trying to help. Victoria's been trying to get something from Kaitlyn for ages with no results. I thought I'd go to Mr. Grimshaw myself to buy her some time, so if she comes up empty-handed, at least the Grimshaws won't blame us."

"With you?" Victoria scoffed from her perch, legs crossed leisurely. "Ridiculous. Dad, don't worry. I'll retrieve the item before the deadline. And when I do, you better not forget what you promised." Gavin's expression shifted, "That's if you can actually get it."

"What did you promise Victoria, Dad?" Sophie's mind raced with the possibility of it being something like the Abernathy estate.

She spun around anxiously, "How about I give you a suggestion, sis? Even if Kaitlyn is tough, her entourage is nothing but dead weight. Why don't we send more people to snatch her daughter? She'll have to hand over the recipe then."

could sabotage it all from the shadows!

others. Especially Gavin, who couldn't believe his daughter, usually as meek as a lamb, could suggest something so

gaze, "How dare you! I've spoiled you rotten to the point where you've forgotten the very

of

read the criminal code? Do you realize kidnapping a child lands you behind bars? I'm seriously questioning whether you're a mole sent by our enemies, just waiting to hand them

Sophie was indistinguishable from

wasn't something everyone

were as simple as she described, they wouldn't have had

Absurd.

really just wanted to help. We could just scare her a little, not actually have Victoria do anything." Seeing her still not giving up, Victoria stood up and approached her, "Enough

then turned to Gavin. "Dad, to be honest, Kaitlyn doesn't have the recipe anymore. It's now in the hands of Vivienne. This woman is the heiress of the Ellingtons, Percival's

instantly alert, "What? Kaitlyn handed it over

know Percival? The beloved

had played the fool for years, but over the past few, with misfortunes befalling the main and secondary branches of the Ellingtons, Percival had taken

perceptive person could see the

doubt, was

the item in their possession, reclaiming it would be a

and you've never been in touch before. If you could reconnect, get close to him, perhaps you could trick that recipe out of Vivienne?" Victoria laughed a

but she insisted on marrying you and staying with the Abernathys. Now, after everything that's happened to my mom, you expect me,

with scorn. "Do you think I have

Gavin's face