The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Madeline felt as if she had plunged into an icy cellar. A bone-chilling cold seeped into her very marrow, a testament to Gavin's ruthlessness—a side of him she had always known existed but had never truly witnessed until now. His cold-heartedness had reached a new low, targeting not sdistant adversary, but her own brother. What if, Madeline wondered, a day cwhen she and her daughter, Sophie, inadvertently crossed his path? Would Gavin discard them as easily as he had her brother? "But those guys were all dealt with by Uncle Joe," Sophie chimed in, trying to mask her concern with a touch of nonchalance. Despite her reluctance, she attempted to reason with Gavin, "If Uncle Joe gets locked up, won't that put everyone he's dealt with under scrutiny? If they start digging into us...' She let her words hang, a deliberate pause to gauge Gavin's reaction. He paused, a flicker of realization crossing his face as he remembered the financial transactions linked to Kipling that could potentially implicate him as well.

With a calculating look, Gavin reassured Sophie, patting her hand gently, "You're thinking ahead, Sophie. Don't worry, your uncle won't end up behind bars. I've got people handling the accounts to ensure the Abernathy family won't get dragged into this mess. He might just have to take a short 'vacation,' but he'll be out in no time." Sophie nodded, her gaze drifting towards Vivienne whispering to Percival, a flicker of jealousy passing through her eyes.

"Why bother with all that? Isn't Aunt Victoria a granddaughter to the Ellington family? Just have her talk to Vivienne. I bet Richard Ellington would listen," Sophie suggested with a sly tilt of her head.

Gavin instinctively opposed, "That's not an option. Our ties with the Ellingtons are...' || Madeline, catching her daughter's cue, quickly composed herself, wiping away her tears. "You're worried about the past feud, but family bonds skip generations, don't they? As Richard Ellington's granddaughter, how could he not cherish Victoria?" She leaned in closer to Gavin, whispering, "And isn't this the perfect chance to see if the Ellingtons would take that woman back? It could be a way to test the waters." Meanwhile, Victoria Abernathy snuggled deeper into her blankets, feeling a sudden chill despite the summer's end. She glanced at Harrison Schram, absorbed in a live stream at her vanity table, and quipped, "Instead of burying yourself in paperwork in your study, what are you doing here fussing over this?" "We're in this together," Harrison replied without looking up. "I'm here to discuss any arising matters on the spot." Victoria rolled her eyes, "What's there to discuss? Vivienne's targeting Kipling, not you." Harrison paused, finally meeting her gaze with a look she couldn't decipher. "She's not just after Kipling; she's aiming at the entire Abernathy legacy." Victoria's heart skipped a beat, confronting Harrison's half-smiling gaze with feigned ignorance, "You think too highly of Vivienne. With all the effort it's taking her to deal with Kipling, you think she can take on the Abernathys? If it weren't for Zinnia pushing Cassidy too far, Vivienne wouldn't stand a chance." As Victoria rambled on, the corners of Harrison's mouth turned up slightly. Once she finished, he shook his head, "No, this is just to stir the pot. Watch, she'll bring up Kipling's corruption next, and it'll lead right back to the Abernathys. Probably to avenge her mother, considering how much Percival despises Gavin." Victoria shivered at his insights. Harrison's intellect was formidable; if he had pieced together so much, it was crucial to keep him in the dark about the deeper scheme.

"The Ellingtons have every reason to despise Gavin, but to think Kipling alone could topple him? You're underestimating him," she said, gesturing towards Ramona seated in the courtroom, "You're involved with these celebrities for Kipling's sake then? To clear his name?" Harrison shared his strategy openly, "I'm aiming for a thriving Abernathy empire, not a shell. If Vivienne succeeds through Kipling, all my efforts would be for naught. But she's proving to be quite the adversary." Victoria wrapped herself tighter in her blanket, contemplating her next move in this high-stakes gof family, power, and legacy. Victoria tried to slip out of the covers, but before she could make her move, Harrison caught her. "Hey Victoria, how about you head over to the Ellingtons tonight, check things out for me, will you?" Victoria nearly swore out loud.

She glared at Harrison, her sharp eyes slicing through him. "Do you always have to be so full of yourself?" Harrison held onto her hand, not letting her move away from him even an inch. His cool, calculating gaze held a flicker of intelligence. "It's just a small favor, Victoria. You're not going to bail onover this, are you?" Victoria snorted with disdain. "You're askingto do your dirty work, Harrison? What kind of man does that make you?" Ridiculous! As if being sent to the Ellingtons on a whim wasn't bad enough, Harrison's reputation as a man living off his partner's wealth was becoming a bit too literal for her# Arthur liking if it weren't for her commitment to Vivienne and Linklater's scheme, she would've walked away a long tago. And here she was, still playing nice with this jerk. Disgusting! A flash of anger crossed Harrison's eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He stepped closer to Victoria, grabbing her chin and pulling her closer. "Whether or not I'ma man, why don't you find out tonight?" he challenged. "After all, we haven't consummated this marriage yet. And Gavin is eager for you to give him a grandson to carry on the family legacy." Victoria was stunned. "!!!" Her arms tensed, the muscles honed from years of training brimming with untapped strength.

In a swift motion, she struck Harrison's shoulder with the palm of her hand. Caught off guard, he was sent flying, spitting out blood as he crashed heavily to the ground with a loud thud.

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