The Million-Dollar Heart

Chapter 140

As Cordelia picked up her phone, she was baffled to see Arabella’s name flash on the screen. A surge of anger welled within her, but she answered the call anyway.

Arabella’s sobbing voice filled the air around the phone. “Dad! You need to come and save me! I’ve been locked up…”

“What? Are you trying to set your dad up again using the same old trick?” Cordelia interrupted her as a bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Arabella seemed taken aback on the other end of the line. “Mom…”

“Don’t call me mom. I can’t bear the weight of it.” Cordelia retorted coldly. “Your dad is still bedridden due to your antics. What are you scheming this time?”

“No, mom, it’s different now. I’m really in trouble.” Arabella’s voice was filled with desperation, and her breath was heavy as if she were on the run.

But Cordelia was not about to be fooled again. Even if she believed Arabella, she wouldn’t bother to help. Her heart was already battered and bruised.

Cordelia cut Arabella off in a stern tone. “Arabella, the biggest regret your dad and I have in this life is adopting you. Now that we’ve severed ties, please stop bothering us.”

With that, she ended the call with a harsh click and followed Michael’s lead by switching off Dorian’s phone.

Even turning off Dorian’s phone wasn’t enough. She turned off her own too.

The mere thought of Arabella made her sick.

East District.

Arabella wasn’t lying to Beatrice. She had been trying to contact the mysterious man since that day.

Unfortunately, as soon as their plot to frame Dorian was exposed, that man and his gang disappeared without a trace.

Left with no other choice, she had to track Elijah’s lawyer in an attempt to find him.

She believed if the man had gone to the lengths of hiring a lawyer for Elijah, he wouldn’t abandon him. He must still be in touch with the lawyer.

But to her dismay, she lost track of Elijah’s lawyer upon reaching the East District.

but she thought about how those people had been hiding in the most chaotic part of the

expect to be targeted by three thugs not long after

grove, where they began to

blocked her path and smirked. “What brings a pretty little thing

heard another one say, “What else could it be? She’s probably lonely and looking for some

remaining one reached out to grab her.

shrieked,

regret it!” One of

dialing 911 as she ran. “I need help! Three men are trying

please provide your exact location?” A

woods near Urban Village in the East District!” Arabella glanced behind her and saw that the men were gaining on her. Panic set in, and she screamed, “Hurry up!

one are

Arabella was unfamiliar with the East District, let alone the numerous groves. She was on the

she’s on the phone with the cops! Let’s finish her off!” One of the men chasing Arabella

killing her?” Another one sneered. “Let’s have our fun, then sell her. Ivan

the path ahead was pitch black.

houses enclosed by tall walls ahead. It looked like a hospital. The small door at the bottom left of the main gate was half open. Without

kicked the metal door and

the gate or the wall.

the dark yard, startled by a chuckle

around to see a chubby man in hospital attire grinning at her. “Miss, are…are

man lunged at her She quickly backed away and

The fat man

hospital ward and hid under a bed. The chubby man found her reem quickly calling out for his

room were disturbed. Someone snapped on the lights, and another started

awoken

began to wail

the lack of staff intervention in

man’s voice grew

the patients suggested,

the fat man’s drooling face appeared under the bed, reaching out to grab

off guard by another man on her other

was tossed onto the cold floor. Using the dim light provided, she

of four other men in the

eye and a

menacing look in his

was constantly muttering gibberish

only one who seemed somewhat normal was brandishing a crude knife that was

man quickly intervened. “No, no way;