The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

A pair of watery eyes stared directly at Gavin. "You gotta believe me. I had nothing with him before. When you married Holly, I was cornered into it..." Her challenging gaze sneakily glanced at Victoria, "Me and him, it was all for show, no real feelings. Besides, you promised you wouldn't marry Holly..."

Griffin watched the scene unfold, noticing Victoria's expression darkening. He nudged Leopold, "Hey, hey, look at that old hag, bringing up Vivienne's aunt like that. To be a homewrecker with no shame, that's a first for me."

Leopold snorted, his eyes filled with mockery, "Ms. Martinez, you should know, there are all sorts in this world. Confusing lack of morals for talent, their values are nothing like ours."

Thomas thought: These two, birds of a feather.

"Gavin..."

Leopold and Griffin had no intention of holding back, their comments loud enough for their corner of the room but not quite reaching the stage. Victoria's lips curved into a brief smirk, which quickly faded. Madeline's face turned from red to purple. Ignoring the situation, she buried her face in Gavin's chest, "Look at them, they're all shaming me!"

Gavin rolled his eyes, guilt flashing across his face. "The Martinez family, didn't your father teach you any respect for your elders? No manners!" The Martinez family and the Abernathy family had always been at odds, and Griffin wasn't scared. "A homewrecker has no right to be my elder!" "Mr. Abernathy should worry about keeping his own house in order. Wouldn't want to be the last to know he's been cuckolded!"

Their exchange was lively, unbeknownst to them that on the stage, Whitford's gaze had not left Madeline for a moment. Especially when he saw her rush into Gavin's arms, his aura turned sharply fierce. Even the handcuffs seemed to clatter in response.

Harrison, achieving his goal, smirked with barely concealed triumph. "Whitford, got nothing to say?"

finally tore his gaze

a crucial decision, Jerry, following Vivienne's instructions, chose his moment. Before Whitford could speak, Jerry raised his hand, "Your Honor, we have another witness." The room tensed for a moment at

excitement was palpable, slapping Thomas's thigh in anticipation. "Here

pain, pushed him away. "Easy there! I get it, the big

hitting you? No wonder it

Thomas: ...Numb to it...

from the sidelines. Anna,

opened. Led by Emrys, the small band

here?!" Gavin exclaimed in a whisper, panic in his eyes. For a brief moment, Victoria thought she could feel Gavin's breath shake. She

pale, avoiding her gaze. "How would I know? Who knows

chilling. "Yet this Mr.

area was crowded, with the "lost Abernathy" occupying significant

courtroom, flanked by Nimel.net

and