The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hair, his muscular chest outlined by the sleek fabric of his silk pajamas. Even though he knew Vivienne couldn't see him, he nodded in agreement and hummed in response.

Glancing down at his phone, it was flooded with thirty messages, half of which were from Richard. A fleeting look of resignation crossed Percival's eyes as he read through them all. Instead of annoyance, a chuckle escaped him. "The Abernathys are hosting a family reunion for Victoria and Grandpa tomorrow." "Again?" Vivienne, putting her phone aside and rolling into bed, was puzzled. "Didn't we do this already? Didn't Harrison tell Gavin?" Handing over his phone, Percival's answer was clear without words, "If he had, we wouldn't be in this mess. The Abernathys' is deeper than we thought." After skimming through Richard's messages and beyond, even Kenneth Ellington couldn't help but scoff at the Abernathys' shamelessness. It seemed he had had his own run-ins with them, his texts brimming with disdain.

Returning the phone, Vivienne pulled Percival down beside her, "Let's not drown in their whirlpool. When the big fish shows up, we'll be ready." As they settled down, Percival, with a swift move, hovered above her, not at all surprised by her unfazed gaze. His hands caressed her soft cheeks, a ticklish sensation spreading through her veins, making her flush and nuzzle against his palm in a playful surrender.

Percival found her gesture incredibly endearing, his gaze deepening. Impatient, Vivienne pulled him closer for a kiss, their lips meeting in a moment that drowned out the sound of the rain and their muffled laughter.

And so, they naturally stood up Gavin. Not just them, aside from Richard and Kenneth, who had accidentally stumbled upon the Abernathys' disgrace, no direct member of the Ellington family showed up.

Victoria, as the granddaughter, sat beside Richard, facing the emissaries sent by Gavin from across a long table, a scene reminiscent of two opposing forces, with the heiress seemingly defecting to the enemy side.

"Apologies for the separation between you and your granddaughter for so long, my lady. The mistress's illness had kept us quite occupied," Brady, dressed in a tailored black suit, offered a polished yet insincere smile.

Richard, unamused by the pretense, shot a disdainful glance at Brady, causing him to sweat, "It's been years, and to think the Abernathys have all turned mute. Quite frankly, I see my donations to the church haven't gone to waste." The underlying insult was not lost on the attendees; Brady, having been a stalwart beside Gavin for years, struggled to find a retort, merely shifting the subject. "Speaking of which, we've heard the Ellington heir has gotten engaged. Why hasn't Percival made an appearance? He is, after all, our Miss's cousin; surely, he could've shown scourtesy." Kenneth, furiously typing on his phone, looked up sharply, defending, "And what right does an underling from the Abernathys have to demand respect from an Ellington?" Not even waiting for Brady's darkening expression to respond, Kenneth turned to Richard, "Are the Abernathys always this delusional?" Richard merely nodded, not bothering to hide his agreement, "A rotten tree yields crooked branches. Gavin's no saint; his followers can't be much better." He added, turning to Victoria with softer tone, "No offense to you, dear.

You're not your father's deeds." et Right, as if she wanted any part in Gavin's legacy! Victoria would've agreed on the spot if not for Brady's expectant look. She managed a strained smile, "Grandpa, well, I do share my father's genes. But it's okay if Percival's busy. I heard he's been tied up with a legal battle for a friend's sake. It's understandable if he couldn't make it." "The case wrapped up yesterday," was the swift rebuttal.

Richard gently patted his granddaughter's hand, his warmth and affection seemingly bridging the gap of their infrequent encounters "You know, your cousin Percival and his wife, Vivienne, are quite the and lovebirds. They've finally taken stoff for a cozy getaway, just the two of them. No need to worry about them now; there'll be plenty of opportunities to meet up later." "Really?" Victoria bit her lip, searching for a way to steer the conversation smoothly. Catching Brady's gaze, she pursed her lips and shot him a glare filled with silent warnings, prompting him to avert his eyes, yet he didn't.

That man, nothing but Gavin's most loyal lackey was Brady who, alongside Gavin, had deceived her mother, and those close to her. And yet, he only ever took orders from Gavin himself. Even Madeline, who loved to flaunt her dominance at home, wouldn't dare to cross him. For the sake of her plan, Victoria couldn't afford to openly confront him. After a moment's thought, she asked, "So, the trial has concluded? How long was the sentence? Surely, there's no chance of an appeal?" Kenneth, oblivious to the subtle dynamics between Richard and Victoria, had been too occupied chasing after Anna during the last family reunion to attend any formal gathering. Richard didn't seem to mind his absence then.

Upon seeing Victoria today, Kenneth couldn't hide his disdain, prompted by her family name. "You've got to be kidding me. Are you living under a rock? It was all over the news yesterday. How could you not know?" "Kenneth, that's enough!" Richard chided, "Victoria is your elder, after all. How could you speak to her like that?"