The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne's brow twitched slightly, but she remained silent.

Hailey's face was a mask of fury as she glared at Arthur, "I'm your aunt, how dare you curse me?"

Arthur, still irritated from an earlier conversation with Percival, directed his anger towards Hailey, "At your age, it's only natural for health issues to crop up. If one day you don't wake up, none of us would be surprised."

Hailey wobbled on her feet, having stood for too long.

Pointing a finger at Arthur, she turned her ire towards Yorick, "Brother, this is the kind of son you've raised? Utterly disrespectful and without a shred of decency. He's cursing me to death!"

Arthur remained unfazed, his attitude clear: you heard me right, that's exactly what I meant.

Hailey, gasping for breath from anger, fell to the ground crying, "Brother, I'm your own sister. He dares to treat me like this before you, disregarding not just you but the entire Linklater family. You must stand up for me..."

Arthur looked down at Hailey, making a scene on the floor, with cold eyes.

He had spent years on the front lines, caring little for the so-called "family rules".

He had his principles: threaten his wife or daughter, and he'd take your life.

No exceptions.

"Enough!"

Yorick's voice boomed, his gaze complex as he looked down at Hailey on the floor.

"I don't want to dwell on what happened the day before yesterday. Since you've mentioned making amends to Sasha and Vivienne, show some sincerity. You're making us all a laughing stock, acting like this at your age. It's embarrassing even for me."

Hailey's face turned an even deeper shade of red with humiliation.

She had just stepped through the door, not even had a sip of water, and now her brother was demanding she apologize to the younger generation in front of everyone.

But she had to swallow her pride.

As long as it gets her what she wants, what's a little humiliation?

Slowly getting up, Hailey brushed off non-existent dust from her dress, reluctantly saying, "Sasha, your aunt here is sorry, it was my fault."

a cold smile playing on her lips, "Aunt, it seems

her ugly expression towards Vivienne sitting next

family, you can't behave like you did when you were outside, staying out overnight with men before your marriage

member of the Linklater family, you should always be

a knife on Hailey's always superior face, "The injury on your face was also for your own good, but it seems I didn't hit

"Bang!"

for Vivienne, do you think you'd still be welcomed in the

already apologized

any of the Linklater family's properties

there won't be a next

word, though her gaze towards Vivienne was filled with even

Vivienne simply listened quietly.

to hear, "Vivienne, you can do whatever you want, I've got your back." Vivienne's eyes sparkled as

was

going long before

ordered, "Dracon, help your

Hailey, "..."

eventually bit the bullet and

didn't mean

and daughter

gone, the table was left

of them enjoyed their meal heartily, hardly sparing

Arthur, whose eyes never

serving Sasha, discussing, "Honey, this steamed pork is great. How about we make it for our daughter's breakfast tomorrow..."

who eats pork belly for

smoothly placed peeled shrimp into her bowl, smiling, "If you don't fancy that, come to my place.

biting into the shrimp, "Alright, I want strawberry

is definitely a

attention to

arriving, he had

met Yorick's gaze,

his tea, "Percival, our family matters must seem

all, Grandfather. Vivienne and I are family. If she's ever wronged again, I'll be there. No