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.

she thought about how those people had been hiding in the most chaotic part of the East District, Urban Village.

expect to be targeted by three thugs not long after she entered Urban

to a secluded grove, where they began to make

of them blocked her path and smirked. “What brings a pretty little thing like you to such

else could it be? She’s probably

out to grab her. “Well then,

Arabella shrieked, dodging his

ungrateful wench! You’ll regret it!” One of the men

She blindly dashed into the nearby woods, dialing 911 as she ran. “I need help! Three men

please provide your exact location?” A dispatcher

in the East District!” Arabella glanced behind her and saw that the men were gaining on her. Panic set in, and she

two urban villages in the East District. Which one are you near, and in which grove?” The dispatcher

know which grove I’m in!” Arabella was unfamiliar with the East District, let alone

phone with the cops! Let’s finish her off!” One of the

her?” Another one sneered. “Let’s have our fun, then sell her. Ivan needs kidneys, right? Let’s sell one of hers first, then let her

colder her heart felt. She sped up, but the path ahead was pitch black. She had no

hospital. The small door at the bottom left of the main gate was half open. Without thinking, she dashed

Unable to enter, the thugs kicked the metal door

didn’t try to climb over the gate or the wall. They left without a

in the dark yard, startled

chubby man in hospital attire grinning at her.

at her She quickly

dent dent num! The fat man giggled

ward and hid under a bed. The chubby man found her reem

the room were disturbed. Someone snapped on the lights, and another started yelling, “Falso, are you

patient, awoken by the

began to wail

under the bed, baffled at the lack of staff intervention in this bizarre

man’s voice grew louder. “I saw you come

of the patients suggested, “Did you check under

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

scream, attempting to back away, but was caught off guard by another man on her other side. He dragged her out into the

onto the cold floor. Using the

four other men

had a crooked eye and

menacing look in his

was constantly muttering gibberish under his

somewhat normal was brandishing a crude knife that was carved out of wood. He sneered at her. “Looks like a

man quickly intervened. “No, no way;