The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne lifted a hand and gently tilted Mara's chin upward, her expression icy, "Do | need to remind you of the way your

grandmother treated my mother-in-law? My mother-in-law was nothing but kind and generous to the Boyd family. What reason did

she have to be ashamed in front of your grandma?"

Mara bit her lip hard, clearly struggling with resentment, "But you can't just take people! | admit | did wrong, and you usedas a

guinea pig—that punishment | accept. But what did Huxley do? He was minding his own business at home, and you took him

prisoner. How is that fair?"

Vivienne's face remained expressionless as she released Mara's chin and wiped her hands with a tissue. With a calm voice, she

commanded, "Thomas, bring it in."

In no time, Thomas entered the room, carrying over his shoulder an android that was the spitting image of Huxley.

With a thud, the robot was unceremoniously dumped on the floor, landing right next to Mara's feet.

The android's lifeless eyes stared directly at the siblings, sending Mara into a shriek of fear as she turned and buried herself in

Huxley's embrace.

Huxley's face paled, his anger from days of captivity dissipating under Vivienne's icy gaze.

It was as if he suddenly becaware of the gravity of his situation.

His face was ashen, and with trembling hands, he shielded Mara behind him. "What is this thing? Why does it look exactly like me?"

Vivienne locked eyes with him. "What? You don't recognize this 'thing'?"

"How could I?" Huxley retorted immediately, "Is this an android? Why would you make one that looks like me? Vivienne, look at me.

I'm nothing compared to my sister; | have no chance against you—why can't you just leavealone?"

The confusion and helplessness on his face did not seem feigned.

Anna believed she had encountered countless smooth-talking criminals and could often tell when they were lying—not always, but

at least four times out of five.

But now, facing Huxley, she couldn't tell if he was lying at all.

Thomas, with a stern face, pulled out a news clipping that had been suppressed by the higher-ups. "Mr. Boyd, even if you haven't

seen this android, you should recognize this news story. You don't know about the android?"

Huxley hesitated, "Should I?"

Percival's cold gaze shifted, his foot resting on the android's head where there was a hole. "This android was found in my mother-

in-law's hospital room. Huxley, that's quite bold of you, isn't it? Messing with my mother-in-law, eh?"

Panic surged in Huxley's heart as he realized Percival seemed convinced the android was his doing!

His hands clenched into fists as he scrambled to think of a way to talk himself out of this.

Mara couldn't even bear to look in that direction.

Her hands clutched Huxley's clothes tightly, her eyes flickering with nervousness and ferocity buried in Huxley's chest.

Damn it!

What the hell were they planning?!

Huxley was a mess; what could he possibly do that was so heinous?

They must be looking for an excuse to get rid of them, too!

She wouldn't let them succeed!

Mara's gaze suddenly sharpened as she tentatively stepped out from Huxley's embrace, "What if someone deliberately made it to

look like Huxley? He was kidnapped and taken to M State before—who knows what they did with him there? Percival, Vivienne,

we're family, after all. Huxley doesn't even know what Vivienne's mother looks like. How could he possibly send such a thing to

harm her?"

She spoke with a soft, analytical tone.

Vivienne and Percival shared a look, their eyebrows raised as if they were actually considering Mara's argument, nodding for her to

continue.

Their near-affirmative gestures bolstered Mara's courage.

Huxley's frantic heart also dared to hope as he straightened up a bit.

Still, he didn't speak, simply standing there trembling, watching Mara step in front of him again, "You've seen what he's like—so

timid he wouldn't even harm a chicken. Besides, if he really wanted to harm your mother, why would he send an android that looks

just like himself? Even a fool wouldn't do such a thing."

Mara didn't notice the fleeting stiffness in Huxley's body as she finished speaking.

Vivienne did, and a dark glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.

"That does make ssense," she said at last, her lips curving into a smile for the first time, "Mr. Boyd, what have you got to

say?"

Caught off guard, Huxley stammered, "I—I think my sister is right. Vivienne, is it possible there's a mole in your operation? After all,

only those on the inside would know your mother's location, and I—I don't have the skills to create an android."

At his words, Vivienne's smile bloomed like a poisonous poppy, chilling to the bone.

After a moment, she reined in her smile and tossed the tissue she had used into the trash, speaking calmly, "Then it seems we

have an internal issue to deal with, Mr. Wolf. We'd better investigate thoroughly."

Percival's austere face remained impassive, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Huxley, his voice deep and rough, "Yes, we should

investigate thoroughly. We can't be wronging my cousin, now can we?"

Vivienne's lips curled slightly, looking at Huxley. "You rest up. We'll go find out who's digging their own grave!"

For sreason, even though they seemed to believe him, Huxley felt increasingly anxious.

He had a feeling that Vivienne and Percival were hinting at something, that there was sunknown danger awaiting him.

Lost in his thoughts, Huxley didn't notice Vivienne and Percival had already left the mansion.

When he cback to his senses, only Mara remained by his side, and even the bodyguards who had been watching him were

gone.

"Huxley!" Mara suddenly exploded in anger, glaring at him with a thunderous expression, "What in the world are you hiding from

me? Do you want to scareto death?"

Her hatred for Vivienne had never ceased for a moment, but her concern for Huxley was genuine.

He was her brother, and she couldn't just stand by and watch him get into trouble right before her eyes.

Huxley cast a glance at Mara, and suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind. He grabbed her hand with urgency, his voice tense, "Sis,

we can't just sit around and wait for the axe to fall. If we stay here, it's only a matter of tbefore they cfor us!"

Mara winced from his tight grip and yanked her hand back, exasperated, "I know we can't keep going like this, but what can we do?

The Boyd family has fallen, my old connections are gone, and now it's just the two of us. Here, under the roof of the Ellingtons,

we're at their mercy."

"No! There's a chance for us!" Huxley insisted.

Mara paused, puzzled, "What chance?"

"If we can orchestrate a change of leadership within the Ellington family, we won't have to live under anyone's thumb anymore,"

Huxley's eyes glinted with a dark determination.

Mara looked at him in disbelief, "Are you out of your mind? The Ellingtons are Rivenwood's most influential family. You think

toppling them is going to be easy?"

"Just trust me, | have a plan. When the tcomes, all | need is for you to backup," Huxley's plans made his heart race with

anticipation.

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