The Million-Dollar Heart

"Sophie, watch your tongue," Harrison chastised with a frosty tone, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Victoria and Kaitlyn are like oil and water; how could she ever lift a finger to help her? You're trying to smear her name with nothing but empty accusations-it's completely out of line!"

Victoria was taken aback by Harrison's unexpected defense. She glanced at him, her eyes revealing a flicker of surprise but void of any real emotion.

She thought back to their past dealings, a shadow crossing her expression, as she found a seat next to Harrison. "Sophie, I'm beginning to question if you have any sense at all. After all I've done for this family do you really think I'd sabotage Kaitlyn? Do you take me for a fool? Helping her would be like shooting myself in the foot!

And let me remind you, it's none of a bastard child's business to meddle in my affairs! You'd best mind your words. Your eagerness to pin this on someone else only betrays your own guilt."

The couple was a rare spectacle, harmoniously united in rebuke.

Sophie found herself at a loss for words, nervously twisting her handkerchief, unsure how to counter.

Madeline stood beside Gavin, internally cursing the fool. She caught Gavin's suspicious gaze and blinked back tears, "Gavin, did you hear what Victoria just said? Despite everything, Sophie is her sister. How could she accuse her like that? She's still so young and hardly knows Kaitlyn. How could she be involved in this mess?"

Madeline's body wilted, leaning into Gavin for support, "Besides, every night the estate is guarded by professionals. With Sophie's limited skills, she couldn't possibly match them."

Dad," Sophie added reluctantly, eager to clear her name. "You know I'm not exactly a martial arts expert. But my sister, and her bodyguard-they're the real deal in the Abernathy family." Harrison interjected, "Yet, the guards from last night didn't report seeing Victoria. And Seaton,

back-and-forth with Sophie, pulled Harrison aside, "Why bother arguing with her? She can barely hold her own in a sparring session, let alone gauge the combat

"Sister..."

"Enough!"

"Silence, all of you! I will get to the bottom of this! Until then, no one leaves the

before she could protest, Harrison held

to the side, Sophie tugged at Madeline's sleeve, thinking

gently pushed Sophie's hand

the estate was silent. Madeline lay curled

on his chest after their intimate moment, Gavin's eyes

faded, Madeline propped herself up, watching him silently, her hesitance

attention. He turned to her, taking her hand, "Something

demurely, her youthful coyness surprisingly evident. Her eyes, brimming with water, sought his, "I know it's not the best timing, but you promised we'd start looking for a match for Sophie. Now that we've secured the

her, curiosity in his gaze, "I thought you weren't too

nudging Gavin,

be as prominent as the Ellingtons, but they have a certain standing in Rivenwood. And their son-he's quite the catch, a perfect match for Sophie Gavin, when can we arrange a meeting between our

seduction, left Gavin momentarily entranced as he pulled her close. Yet his eyes betrayed no desire, "I initially wanted Sophie to mingle with the Sterlings for the sake of that recipe. Now that we've retrieved it, perhaps

man! Using our daughter as a pawn for your own gains, and now you

have it! You promised me, and you can't back out

his grip, contemplating the next move in the high-stakes game that