The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Harrison masked his turbulent emotions with a practiced ease, his mind, however, was a tumultuous sea. "I just saw Vivienne and Percival. But, they didn't seem to notice me. Surprised, I guess." "Why would that surprise you?" Victoria couldn't grasp the significance. "You're hardly a celebrity. Why should they care if they saw you or not? Harrison, you're too full of yourself."

Used to Victoria's sarcastic jabs, Harrison didn't even flinch. He even managed a gentle smile, taking Victoria's hand in his, holding her firmly by his side despite her struggles. "You're right. They had no reason to notice me."

"I heard Sophie got turned down by Leopold recently. She's quite upset. We should go see her to make sure she's alright."

Victoria scoffed at the thought of Sophie being in trouble but paused her attempt to pull away.

Sophie being rejected, and now to show up in front of her cozy with Harrison, would probably infuriate her!

With that thought, Victoria ceased her struggles.

Behind them, Seaton, tasked with carrying gifts, raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on the intertwined hands of the pair in front of him. He swallowed his doubts and hurried after Victoria into the elevator.

"The Sterling family thinks they're so high and mighty just because they have some cash!" Sophie lay weakly in her hospital bed, her eyes, turned towards Gavin, were streaked with tears. She looked utterly wronged, as if she'd faced the greatest injustice outside.

Gavin, who always had a soft spot for Madeline's tears, now felt his heart tug seeing her daughter, who bore a striking resemblance, in distress. "My daughter, a direct descendant of an ancient warrior lineage, settling for his son would have been beneath her! And yet, that Sterling patriarch dared to snub me! Especially Leopold, utterly detestable!"

"Dad, who's got you so worked up in the middle of the day?"

Victoria entered, catching the tail end of his rant. Her eyes sparkled with unspoken delight as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, accidentally brushing her earring.

and went straight to Gavin. "You're already dealing with

looked at Victoria in disbelief and hurt. "Look at Victoria. Even if Sophie, her sister, is in here sick over

He waved Victoria away with a gentle gesture, "You're growing more insensitive by the day! Sophie got dumped, and

course, she

Sophie, did she even see the size of the chip on

How can you see me like this?! Besides, there was nothing serious between Sophie and Leopold to begin with. Him not being interested is hardly surprising. It's embarrassing, making such a fuss over a man

rapid-fire commentary left even Harrison scrambling to catch

Victoria, too infuriated to form words. Eventually, she just turned her face into the pillow, her sobs echoing in the

clutched her

don't like Sophie. But how could you say such things?! Sophie is your sister, a lady of the Abernathy family. Not securing a marriage alliance

days

easier."

speak of us?! Don't forget, you're also an Abernathy! If

by the Sterling family. If they had no intentions of forming an alliance, they should have made it clear,

soften, he added, "And who

frowned. "What other reason could

along well with Vivienne too. Maybe they don't like Sophie and said something to Leopold, so he..." Before he could finish, everyone caught

playing games, keeping Leopold away from