The Million-Dollar Heart

Chapter 2

The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.

“Wait, what? Percival’s fiancée?” Beatrice jumped to her feet before finishing her sentence. “Yeah, right. It’s Vivienne who’s engaged to the Ellingtons, not you. Now that Vivienne’s back, you don’t have to marry Percival.”

Richard had always doted on Percival, especially after Percival saved him two years ago, despite ending up disabled. Richard’s affection for him only grew. And he also became more and more reckless, squandering Richard’s money without a second thought.

But for some reason, the Ellingtons suddenly sent someone over a while back, saying that the Hawthorn’s lady had an engagement with Percival and they had to honor it. At the time, Vivienne wasn’t back yet, so the Hawthorn’s lady was Arabella, right?

Beatrice was immediately anxious. Even though the Ellingtons held a high status, Arabella was her carefully nurtured protege. She wanted Arabella to marry someone better, someone who could elevate the Hawthorns to new heights. Although Percival was favored, he lacked real power, and the money he had was still provided by his parents and Richard. It was important to know that the money would run out, and when it did, he might be dependent on Arabella’s wealth.

Beatrice naturally wouldn’t allow that. But because of the engagement with the Ellingtons, she couldn’t just call it off. So she’d been brainstorming ways to smoothly break off the engagement.

Now that Vivienne was back, there was no need to break off the engagement. After all, Vivienne was just a country girl. She was a good match for the disabled Percival. The Hawthorns could even use this opportunity to deepen their relationship with the Ellingtons. It was a win–win.

Thinking of this, Beatrice immediately said, “I agree with Vivienne’s return. You guys go teach Vivienne some manners. She’s getting engaged to Percival in a month. We can’t have her embarrassing the Hawthorns at the engagement party.”

Dorian and Cordelia were stunned and looked at Beatrice in disbelief. They still hadn’t recovered from Arabella’s words earlier.

Soon Dorian lifted his head. “Wait, what engagement party? Isn’t Arabella the one engaged to Percival?”

“Once Vivienne’s back, she’s the older daughter of the Hawthorn family. She’s the one engaged to the Ellingtons. Now that she’s back, she should honor the engagement,” Beatrice shot back.

At this, Cordelia furrowed her brows and looked at Vivienne, feeling a pang of sympathy. Beatrice’s scheme was too transparent. No wonder she agreed so easily to Vivienne’s return. She had ulterior motives.

Who didn’t know that Percival was disabled?

Percival before, but

his expression darkened. “Arabella is

“We can’t afford to piss off

Dorian was so angry his face turned

return to the

Beatrice, her eyes shining brightly. After a moment, she spoke calmly. “Fine, I agree.”

to the Hawthorn

Vivienne smiled faintly. She came back to the Hawthorn family just in time to call off her engagement

kicked out of the Hawthorn Mansion by the family elders. Now they lived in a small apartment at Prominent Estates on the edge of downtown. The neighborhood was somewhat run–down. {robably because of its years, walls were peeling. Dorian’s family lived in

soon as she entered her room, someone knocked on the door.

up?” Vivienne made way for Dorian to come

Dorian pursed his lips, unsure

Vivienne offered Dorian a seat and

help you cancel the

lifted her eyes, looking surprised

big deal, and Percival is disabled. If you marry him, you’ll have to take care of him for the rest of your life. He hopes you can find a man of good character

continued, “But this engagement was set by your

felt sorry for her. Percival was disabled. So what if the Ellington family had got money and power? That engagement was nothing but a trap,

a slight smile, “Yeah, I’m planning on calling

and Vivienne’s stepmother. In the short few hours of interaction, Vivienne

in touch with the Ellington family right away

Chapter 2

left was a stylishly dressed man with earrings, he looked the tall man next to him, ‘Mr. Ellington, it’s been two days and the girl hasn’t shown up. I guess she might not come at all, let’s get

bit longer. The man in the middle, with narrow eyes, was staring at the nameless monument with a glint in his eyes. He was dressed in black casual clothes, his short hair

Percival from the Ellington family, the one who Vivienne had saved. And the one who

earlobe and chuckled, “Miss Hawthorn is a remarkable woman from Havenwood, and your two families have been engaged since childhood. Your grandfather has repeatedly stressed that the

the Hawthorn family haven’t proposed to call off the