The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gavin's eyes flashed a warning as he glanced at Victoria, "Since we've given our word to the Grimshaws, we can't break it.

Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many times you've visited them—it won't do any good."

He signaled to Harrison, who immediately stepped forward to help Sophie up, "Miss Sophie, Victoria speaks her mind. Don't take

offense. Better get up from the floor—it's cold, and you wouldn't want to catch a chill. Dad would be worried sick."

"Get lost—I don't need your help."

Sophie shook off Harrison's hand with a defiant look. She wasn't foolish.

Wasn't Harrison's remark just a blatant admission that Victoria was right?

Everyone looked down on her, including her own father, who always claimed to love her the most!

Was it just because Victoria held the title of the legitimate daughter?

If it weren't for her mother's relentless pursuit, that status should have rightfully been hers!

Biting her lower lip in frustration, she said, "Dad, | was just trying to help. Victoria's been trying to get something from Kaitlyn for

ages with no results. | thought I'd go to Mr. Grimshaw myself to buy her stime, so if she comes up empty-handed, at least the

Grimshaws won't blus."

"With you?" Victoria scoffed from her perch, legs crossed leisurely. "Ridiculous. Dad, don't worry. I'll retrieve the item before the

deadline. And when | do, you better not forget what you promised."

Gavin's expression shifted, "That's if you can actually get it."

"What did you promise Victoria, Dad?" Sophie's mind raced with the possibility of it being something like the Abernathy estate.

She spun around anxiously, "How about | give you a suggestion, sis? Even if Kaitlyn is tough, her entourage is nothing but dead

weight. Why don't we send more people to snatch her daughter? She'll have to hand over the recipe then."

And then, Sophie could sabotage it all from the shadows! Victoria would completely lose their father's trust!

She rambled on, oblivious to the changing expressions of the others. Especially Gavin, who couldn't believe his daughter, usually

as meek as a lamb, could suggest something so sinister.

He was stunned for a moment before he exploded in anger under Harrison's and Victoria's gleeful gaze, "How dare you! I've

spoiled you rotten to the point where you've forgotten the very concept of legality!"

Kidnapping Kaitlyn's daughter?

The audacity of such a thought!

Victoria tucked her tousled hair behind her ear. "You should've taken your studies seriously, but you chose to play with pigs

instead. Sophie, have you ever read the criminal code? Do you realize kidnapping a child lands you behind bars? I'm seriously

questioning whether you're a mole sent by our enemies, just waiting to hand them a victory on a silver platter. Or maybe you're

just tired of wearing jade bracelets and fancy a pair of handcuffs instead?"

Harrison said nothing. His gaze on Sophie was indistinguishable from that of someone observing a complete fool.

Intellect, evidently, wasn't something everyone possessed.

If the situation were as simple as she described, they wouldn't have had to go to such lengths to torment the Littletons.

Absurd.

"I, I..." Sophie was on the verge of tears, "Dad, I'm sorry. | was just talking nonsense. Please believe me; | really just wanted to help.

We could just scare her a little, not actually have Victoria do anything."

Seeing her still not giving up, Victoria stood up and approached her, "Enough with your little act."

She glanced at Sophie dismissively, then turned to Gavin. "Dad, to be honest, Kaitlyn doesn't have the recipe anymore. It's now in

the hands of Vivienne. This woman is the heiress of the Ellingtons, Percival's wife. You know what | mean?"

Gavin was instantly alert, "What? Kaitlyn handed it over to Percival's wife?"

How could he not know Percival? The beloved nephew of that woman! Richard's most cherished grandson.

He had played the fool for years, but over the past few, with misfortunes befalling the main and secondary branches of the

Ellingtons, Percival had taken the reins.

Any perceptive person could see the reach of Percival's influence.

And his wife, no doubt, was no ordinary woman.

With the item in their possession, reclaiming it would be a formidable challenge.

After a long pause, Gavin looked at Victoria, instructing, "You're his cousin, and you've never been in touch before. If you could

reconnect, get close to him, perhaps you could trick that recipe out of Vivienne?"

Victoria laughed—a mocking, hollow laugh.

She moved closer to Gavin, "Dad, are you losing your memory in your old age? Remember, my mom severed ties with the

Ellingtons because of you. My grandfather and uncle reached out to her initially, but she insisted on marrying you and staying with

the Abernathys. Now, after everything that's happened to my mom, you expect me, her daughter, who's never been acknowledged

by them, to cknocking on their door?"

Her smile was laced with scorn. "Do you think | have no pride?"

"You!" Gavin's face turned ashen.

Victoria gave him a sidelong glance, nonchalantly saying, "If you have the gall to approach the Ellingtons, be my guest, but don't

expectto do your bidding."

With that, she walked away, leaving a parting shot, "I'll find a way to get the recipe, but keep your daughter in check. Don't let her

provokebecause if | lose my mind one day and accidentally end her, that won't be pretty."

She didn't linger; she just stormed out, leaving Gavin fuming and Sophie seething with resentment. Harrison watched the

unfold, his expression unreadable.

In the middle of the night, in Sophie's bedroom.

"What? That bitch had the nerve to say that to you?"

Sophie was nestled in the luxurious embrace of her bed, leaning into her mother's comforting arms. The woman exuded an air of

grace and sophistication that filled the room. Sophie nodded meekly, "No, it's not just that. | think Dad wants to bring Victoria's

mom back hto take care of her."

The normally charming and lovely features of Sophie's face were marred by a sense of being wronged, prompting a surge of

sympathy in Madeline. But when she heard the next part, her face, weathered by time, twisted into a grimace of fury. "She wishes!

That home-wrecker will never set foot in the Abernathy household again! Including the little bitch she brought into this world; they

can all drop dead! No one will take what's mine or my daughter's!" She cursed inwardly

Meanwhile, in Vivienne and Percival's apartment, the couple was curled up on the sofa, engrossed in a horror movie.

As the bloodied, grotesque face of a woman lunged at the screen, Vivienne's phone suddenly rang, startling her despite her usual

bravado.

Percival seized the moment. Before Vivienne could even move, he pulled her head close to his chest, "There, there, no need to be

scared. I'm here, Vivienne, you're safe."

Vivienne could hardly breathe...

"Mr. Wolf, you can let go now."

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