The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

"Turns out, the folks visiting the hospital looking for the professor were Harrison's crew?" "I smell a juicy story brewing. Spill the beans, upstairs." "Yeah, about three days ago, this group of guys in black suits, straight out of smob movie, clooking for Professor Trent. I was chatting in his office and saw them coming, so I stepped out." "Right before the door closed, I heard them asking the professor for help. Couldn't catch anything else." "Con, you gotta work on your fiction, buddy. If Harrison really had beef, why stage a whole spectacle at the hospital? He'd just snatch the professor in the shadows, no fuss." "The comments here are savage." The online forum dubbed someone defending Harrison as "the lawless advocate," jesting at their expense.

In court, before anyone could properly get a word in, Sophie, eager to not be overshadowed, blurted out the saccusation. Her shrill voice cut through the silence, rendering the courtroom speechless.

Vivienne massaged her temples, speechless, "Your Honor, this individual is disrupting the order of the court. Perhaps it's best if she's removed." The judge nodded in agreement.

With a slight cough, he gestured towards Sophie, "Remove her. This is no place for those ignorant of the law." Kidnapping? Really? As if anyone could easily snatch Professor Trent! Publicly, he's a respected figure at Elite University, but secretly, he's involved in national science projects and always guarded. Harrison attempting a kidnapping? That's practically asking for a swift arrest! "Why are you ejecting me?!" As the officers approached, Sophie backed away in panic, bumping into Ramona, who, dressed unassumingly, grimaced and sidestepped as if to avoid contamination, "Stay away, idiot!" Their proximity allowed Sophie to hear the insult clearly, her face turning red with rage: "Who are you calling an idiot?!" "Do you think you're better than everyone else?!" She lunged at Ramona, aiming for the woman's face mask, "Wearing a mask indoors, what are you hiding, you freak? I'm going to see what kind of monster you are today!" But Ramona, raised by the Grimshaw family, wouldn't be easily attacked.

She smoothly dodged behind her seat, her eyes cold as she stared at Sophie, "What are you waiting for? Grab her!" As she evaded Sophie, her gaze full of anger turned to the hesitant officers.

The chaos that ensued was indescribable.

Finally, Ramona managed to lead Sophie straight to the officers, who seized the opportunity to apprehend her.

Pinned to the cold marble floor, the chill brought Sophie back to her senses, but she didn't immediately call for Gavin's help. Instead, her eyes found Percival, sitting calmly beside Vivienne.

His deep, steady gaze watched the turmoil unfold.

Speaking to Vivienne, his usually indifferent eyes sparkled slightly, a contrast to the cold demeanor he held towards the rest. Sophie's mouth twitched with jealousy.

If it weren't for Vivienne's suggestion, she wouldn't be in this embarrassing situation! "Dad, Mom!" As the officers dragged her out, Sophie's eyes pleaded towards Gavin, "Say something, letgo! How dare you do this to me, letgo!" But her cries fell on deaf ears.

Gavin and Madeline, as if deaf, wished they could disappear into thin air, their faces a mixture of shand despair.

Never had the influential middle-aged couple felt so humiliated, their faces tightening under the scrutinizing gaze of the onlookers.

Victoria watched the unfold with a mix of schadenfreude and et sorrow. Despite Gavin and Madeline's usual doting on Sophie, their interests and reputations cfirst, easily discarding their own daughter when threatened And Victoria herself had been used as a bargaining chip to win over Harrison.

Her gaze fell sorrowfully on Harrison, shaking her head slightly, her movements freezing when their eyes met.

Harrison's dark eyes flickered, and las Victoria followed his gaze, she saw Whitford standing tall in the witness box, his eyes fixed on Sophie with a mix of emotion and intensity, his handcuffed hands clenched in agitation. Why would Whitford react so strongly to Sophie's predicament? Victoria's temples throbbed with worry, fearing the worst about her father's involvement.

Her eyes involuntarily darted to Madeline.

In the defendant's seat, Harrison paused, his cold gaze shifting from Whitford to the jury, "Whitford, think carefully. Perjury is a serious offense." "Everyone here is watching you." His words sent a shiver through Whitford, who looked towards Harrison, meeting his meaningful gaze only for a moment before it moved on.

Whitford followed Harrison's gaze to the crowded courtroom, catching sight of two familiar figures.

Madeline, hoping against hope Whitford wouldn't notice her, tensed under his gaze.

Feeling the weight of his stare, she gripped her clothes tighter.

"Looks like he's watching you, Ms. Abernathy. Why not look up?" Victoria couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.

Gavin's weathered face turned a shade darker, as if a flhad ignited within him at lightning speed.

Haunted by memories that made his blood boit at the mere thought, his rage nearly consumed his sanity The only thing holding him back was the fear of being thrown out,gust like what happened to Sophie. He was itching to give Whitford a piece of his mind, maybe even more.

"Victoria, zip it!" Gavin's voice turned icy upon hearing Victoria's comments, which sounded more like she was enjoying the , "Do you really want to add to today's embarrassment?" Victoria just rolled her eyes, clearly unconcerned, "It's notwho's making a fool of themselves. I'm just stating the facts." Right when Gavin was about to lose his cool, Madeline gently tugged at his sleeve with a timid expression, "Gavin, it's all in the past between him and me." * Privacy