The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

"Mr. Wolf, let's go."

Vivienne took Percival's hand, their eyes meeting with a shared look of tenacity and resolve.

It was time to tear open the curtain of complacency with this Sadie and Julian incident. It was about time those arrogant fools realized that not everything in this world could be shaken by the ancient warrior lineages!

Outside the police station, Harrison's half-lit face flickered in the dim light. He touched his swollen cheek gingerly, fingers coming away dusted in grime.

That was the mark left by Vivienne's boot when she kicked up the dirt in her haste.

"The Ellington family, the Hawthorn family... Good for them!"

At the Abernathy estate.

Early in the morning, Victoria's courtyard was abuzz with activity as people came and went, busy with their duties.

The moment Victoria stepped through the gate, a thunderous roar echoed clearly to her ears, and her emotions tumbled through surprise before settling on bewilderment.

She grabbed a passing maid by the arm, urgently asking, "What's going on inside?"

The maid, clutching a bottle of medicine, dare not conceal the truth, "The young master has been beaten, and the patriarch is in a fury."

Harrison was beaten?

though doubts lingered, her

shook his head indicating he was also in the dark about the

Abernathy estate, though he wasn't considered heir apparent by Gavin; he held a special place in

of personal combat skills, outsiders usually showed him a modicum

had

and have a

be at the top of it, so she wouldn't miss such an amusing opportunity for the world. Victoria's lips curled into a smile at the thought of Harrison's misfortune, "Of course. How could I miss such

slapped and dishes crashing, could be heard from inside, "This is outrageous! Do the Ellingtons truly think they are the foremost power in Veridia?! That Vivienne, to

her face tinged

Gavin," Madeline's voice, affected and melodramatic, broke through, "Don't be so angry. There's no point in ruining your health over a trivial girl like Vivienne. She doesn't have any real power; she's just caught Mr. Ellington's eye because of her looks. Harrison isn't seriously hurt, so

old Richard never respected me, choosing to cut ties with his daughter rather than support me. And now, decades later, his grandchildren have the audacity to attack our family! It's as if they're cut from the same cloth, that Vivienne, just as arrogant and

one who hit Harrison?" After standing in the yard for a while, Victoria pieced together the story, "That

she'd indirectly avenged her, Victoria thought it only fair to let slide the incident where Vivienne had

relaxation on her face evaporated like mist. What in the world had her mother

following behind Victoria, noticed her hesitation at the door and her expression souring before she turned

of surprise crossed his eyes. Victoria used to relish seeing Harrison's defeats, so why not now?

bother with Harrison? We'd be better off thinking

to when she walked away, all the commotion was drowned

glimpse of a familiar silhouette. His eyes flickered with recognition, then immediately dismissed the

she knew he'd been hit, would surely be the first to rush in and gloat. Why