The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 1195

Isaiah and Gordon couldn't help but burst into laughter as they finished speaking in unison. More kids kept arriving, each of them making a beeline to greet Juliette and her group first.

Although Soren and Anna didn't have gifts for the kids, they brought plenty of goodies, quickly livening up the hall. Everyone who saw the siblings couldn't stop praising their upbringing.

Floyd knew he was being watched. He stood up, intending to head to the restroom, and just then, he overheard some of the entitled young men who came with their families gossiping about him at the door.

"See that? Chen's still around. Disappeared for years and now he's back. Quite the surprise."

"No shame, right? If it weren't for their family's kindness, he'd have been long gone. After all those years abroad, he still dares to come back, thinking he's one of them?"

"With everyone talking just now, hardly anyone paid him any mind. Those are folks well in with the big families. If I were him, I'd be too embarrassed to show my face. He's just bustling about like a waiter - guess that's all he'll ever amount to."

The room erupted in laughter after their harsh words, and Floyd, standing outside, didn't utter a single word. He neither stopped them nor walked away, his hand clenched by his side.

As the voices grew closer to Floyd, he lifted his head to see the door open and the faces of those mocking him appear.

Perhaps they hadn't expected such a direct confrontation, as their smiles quickly faded.

Floyd's gaze was as calm as still water, instilling an inexplicable fear in them, a fear that seemed to grow uncontrollably.

"You, why are you here?" one dared to ask.

The question made Floyd chuckle, his response laced with sarcasm. "What do people usually come to the restroom for? Surely not just to gossip, right?"

composure. "Well then, enjoy your restroom visit," one said haughtily before striding away, signaling the

vacated the doorway, and Floyd, paying them no heed,

of Floyd,

the

the person surveilling him shiver, sensing something eerily

the crowd moving below him, Floyd smiled knowingly -

carelessly choosing

entering the room. "Follow him. Today, I'm

but Floyd was nowhere to be seen in

"Search!" the man bellowed.

vast room for Floyd but

they decided to leave,

had just disconnected the lights, walked in with a chuckle, everyone saw him by the door. He slowly closed

it you? Why turn off the lights? Scared of facing me?" the

"Scared of

Floyd's hand was tightly around his neck, his grip tightening with every

couldn't see what was happening in the dark, only hearing the sounds of a struggle

ceased, and the eeriness settled heavily in the

let anyone off; in less than ten minutes,

out, there was no sign of what had transpired. He even calmly went downstairs to greet Anna and the

before the official start of the banquet went unnoticed, and no one

blending in as just

than before. Floyd blamed Vivienne and Percival for this change. They must have stopped caring long ago, allowing such disdain towards him. "Just goes