The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Just then.

The door to their room swung open, pushed by Gavin from the outside. The sudden noise startled the middle-aged man inside, whose gaze darted toward the sound. Harrison, with blood at the corner of his mouth and reddened eyes, caused his expression to drastically change.

Madeline let out a scream, snapping Gavin back to reality. He hurriedly instructed someone to help Harrison up. "Victoria, have you lost your mind? Are you trying to murder your own husband?!" Victoria stared blankly at her hands, her pupils dilated in shock. It didn't make sense to her. From what she had observed of Harrison recently, his seemingly weak demeanor had to be an act. She might have been a bit too reactive, a little too rough, but surely it wasn't enough to make someone cough up blood.

She opened her mouth, her gaze sweeping over Harrison's pitiful, semi-conscious state, her eyes tightening. "Who knew he was so fragile? It was just a joke."

Her nonchalant chuckle and carefree demeanor only infuriated Gavin further. He raised his hand to strike, but Sophie, who had followed him into the room, lit up with schadenfreude, barely able to hide her glee.

Only Madeline, her pupils contracting, stepped forward to intercept.

Smack!

The expected pain didn't explode on Victoria's face. To her surprise, a slim figure had blocked Gavin's blow.

Victoria raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Harrison, who was being helped up, and Sophie at the door, finally resting on Gavin's shocked face. Then, she glanced at the person who had shielded her, reluctantly coming to a conclusion. Madeline!

Interesting.

She wondered how Madeline planned to betray her this time.

"Mom!"

two minutes after the slap, only broken

aside to embrace Madeline, who was now teary-eyed and holding her face.

her teeth, maintaining a pitiful demeanor. "I'm fine. As long as Victoria is okay, that's what matters. Gavin, you're being too impulsive." "Even if Victoria is wrong, she's grown up; you can't

Victoria. The message was clear: see, even if you disagree with me, Gavin will still push you to

his hand, dismissing the servants to tend to Harrison's wounds, then turned and shut the door, leaving the

glanced at the laptop still streaming the trial, then asked,

The room went silent.

looked around in surprise, then pointed to herself, "Are you asking me?" Gavin

Dad, you might as well cut ties with the Abernasy family to avoid

could you say that? He's

your mom helping me have to do with your uncle? Did I ask for her

complain, "Our family and the Abernasy family

Gavin's expression darkened, and he turned his cold gaze

close the bank account used for receiving the money. No

simple to resolve. Why bother taking the risk of alerting them by protecting

the money, just use a

ideas without a second thought. "Nonsense! The connections we've built aren't something you

the trial, I'll arrange for you

decisively ending the conversation, "Seize the opportunity to plead with Richard, hoping he'll pressure

laughed

do you hear yourself? Kipling