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

rambled on, oblivious to the changing expressions of the others. Especially Gavin, who couldn't believe

for a moment before he exploded in anger under Harrison's and Victoria's gleeful gaze, "How dare you! I've spoiled you rotten to the

of such a

tucked her tousled hair behind her ear. "You should've taken your studies seriously, but you chose to play with pigs instead. Sophie, have you ever 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 a victory on a silver platter. Or maybe you're just tired of wearing jade bracelets and

on Sophie was indistinguishable

evidently, wasn't something everyone

as she described, they wouldn't have had to go to such lengths to

Absurd.

We could just scare her a

glanced at Sophie dismissively, 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

"What? Kaitlyn handed

Percival? The beloved nephew of that woman!

few, with misfortunes befalling the main and secondary branches of the Ellingtons, Percival had taken

could see the reach of Percival's

no doubt,

reclaiming it would be a

long pause, Gavin looked at Victoria, instructing, "You're his cousin, 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 mocking,

Gavin, "Dad, are you losing your memory in your old age? Remember, my mom severed ties with the Ellingtons because of you. My grandfather and uncle reached out to her initially, but she insisted

smile was laced with scorn. "Do

Gavin's face turned