The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Stifling the churning in her stomach, Victoria shifted in her seat and propped her head up with one hand. "Don't make me sick, Harrison. You might be able to fool my dad with your little schemes, but you can't fool me. Go ahead and mess with the Littletons behind my back; I couldn't care less. I've never been one for such life-shortening endeavors."

Rising from her chair, she approached Harrison. "But let me warn you! The Ellingtons have got Kaitlyn's back now, so you'd better tread lightly. If you bring trouble my way, don't expect me to play the loving wife."

Her pale fingertips tapped Harrison's chest.

Before Victoria could retract her hand, he grabbed it and pressed it against his heart. "Victoria, we're in this together. I'm helping out Dad to make him see our worth a bit more."

He pursed his lips, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "You don't understand. If I don't get involved, Sophie and her mother will take all the credit. You wouldn't want to see that, would you?

After all, your mother's fate is still in Dad's hands. If we don't get our hands on that item within a week, who do you think Dad will blame when the Grimshaws come knocking?"

His words were like a gentle knife, slicing away at Victoria's heart.

Harrison had honed his skills over the years, his cool gaze seemingly laden with affection. But upon closer inspection, one could see nothing but cold calculation in his eyes. No trace of the tenderness and warmth expected between spouses.

Victoria knew that look all too well. Unless he needed something, Harrison was always indifferent to her, only playing the doting husband in front of Gavin.

She hadn't expected Vivienne to invoke such fear in Harrison. Suppressing a smirk, she tried to pull her fingers away, but his grip was astonishingly strong. No matter how hard she tried, his palm remained firmly in place.

her too much of how Gavin might have sweet-talked her mother with feigned affection, only to discard her once there was no more benefit to be

sure you don't want another kick to that handsome

clearly reluctant, but eventually,

fingers meticulously as if she had

flashed with anger for a moment, and Victoria felt like she had been targeted by a viper lurking in

paused in her cleaning and

to maintain his charming and easygoing facade, blinking innocently as his long lashes

the urge to

hold it together. She must! It wasn't time to confront Harrison

of her lips and tossed the handkerchief into the trash. "Don't use me as your excuse. I've seen plenty like you-ungrateful, two-faced scoundrels. Claiming you did it for me when, in reality, marrying me was just a means to secure your

yet. Whether they'll get a share of the inheritance is another matter, and our uncles barely acknowledge them. My father has no sons, so the legitimate

not escaping Victoria's keen observation, who added, "You used the Littletons as a stepping stone to get into my father's good graces. You've spent enough years

"You say it's for me, but it's just another way for you to curry favor with my father. But what a pity. You've hit a snag. If I'm not mistaken, Vivienne and Percival have already found evidence of your past misdeeds

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Despite her wary gaze, he wrapped his arms around her. "I still have you, Victoria. You are my wife, Richard Ellington's niece. If you plead with Percival on my behalf, I believe he might agree. Don't you

you think that's possible?

your mother is." Harrison looked into Victoria's suddenly wide eyes, gleaming as brightly as