The Million-Dollar Heart

Victoria flung Harrison's hand away and plopped down into a chair with all the grace of a queen, her legs crossed elegantly. She hardly looked like she was here to visit a sick friend-more like she was here to stir up trouble.

But with Harrison smoothing things over, Gavin unusually held his tongue. Instead, he shot Victoria a look of disappointment, "Look at you! You've been married to Harrison for how long, and you haven't learned a thing about navigating social waters. How am I supposed to trust you with the Abernathy legacy?"

"Oh, if you're that worried, then don't," Victoria replied nonchalantly, catching Harrison's warning glance.

She quickly changed the subject before Gavin could blow a fuse, "I heard about the court's decision today. Kipling's lawyer has already requested a sentencing date. Dad, is the guy you found for him any good? I heard Kaitlyn's lawyer has been knocking it out of the park with international cases. Can Kipling really stand a chance?"

Gavin scoffed, "Why do you care if he's any good? We don't need to win now; we play the long game. As long as we can drag Vivienne and her lot through the mud before the next court date, who's gonna believe them?"

Madeline, leaning on Gavin's shoulder, looked Victoria over, a hint of suspicion in her eyes, "Victoria, since when do you care about my brother's business?"

How could Victoria not catch the probing tone in Madeline's voice? She met Madeline's gaze with an icy stare, “I thought you wanted me to show more interest in your family affairs? Now that I am, you're not happy about it. Madeline, you twist my words regardless, complaining to Dad about me no matter what I do."

Madeline stammered, "Victoria, I-I didn't mean it like that... I was just curious, that's all..."

Harrison's eyes flickered coldly, "Victoria is just curious. After all, she and Kaitlyn have never seen eye to eye. If Kipling can put Kaitlyn in her place, it's a win for us. Besides, taking down Kaitlyn is like taking down Vivienne. It'll make things easier with the Grimshaws."

she cares about the Abernathy family. She's put in a lot of work; no one wants to see that go to waste." Madeline and her clever retorts were no match

got a

Better to keep quiet.

a much trickier opponent than Victoria's straightforwardness. Caution was the better part of

explanation, openly sharing his plan with Victoria, "There's no point in hiding it. Just look it up online; we're not living in the stone age. If Vivienne thinks she can use public opinion to her advantage,

feeling about this. She glanced at Seaton, meeting his gaze that held a worry only

her phone, feigning curiosity as she scrolled

warm as she waited for the flood of information to

case had just ended, and the verdict was already trending, accompanied by Zinnia's public support for Kipling and insinuations against Vivienne for bribing the judge.

if she had witnessed everything herself, had convinced many. She even made a formal complaint using her ID, a bold

looking smug, cleared

Just you watch, in a couple of days, Vivienne and Kaitlyn's reputations will be

her phone, mused, "But couldn't the court just clarify

get it, Victoria."

on the agenda

"Really?" Victoria scoffed.

if you could