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 mother with feigned affection, only to discard her once there

Her eyes sharpened. "Harrison, I'm sure you don't want another kick to

hesitated, clearly reluctant, but eventually, he

handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her fingers meticulously as if she had touched something vile and couldn't scrub

Victoria felt like she had been targeted by a

her cleaning and looked up, meeting Harrison's

and easygoing facade,

to

She must! It wasn't time to

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

lot aren't even on the family tree yet. Whether they'll get a share of the inheritance is another

Littletons as a stepping stone to get into my father's good graces. You've spent enough years in our household to understand him well. You're betting he wouldn't pass the legacy to Sophie, so you chose to

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 against the

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but Harrison didn't deny them. He straightened his clothes and stepped closer to her. 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

think that's possible?

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