The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The roar infused with a primal force hit Kipling like a physical blow, making his scalp tingle and half of his body tremble uncontrollably.

Had he not been clutching the door frfor dear life, he might have ended up on his knees.

His mind buzzed, disoriented, as he nodded and backed out of the room.

No sooner had he stepped out than the door slammed shut with a loud bang, narrowly missing his head! He didn't know how long he waited, pacing the living room in circles, before Gavin finally emerged, looking sharp and composed. His cold gaze landed on Kipling, dark and displeased.

Without even a proper look at Kipling, Gavin took his seat at the head of the table, exasperated. "What's the crisis now?" Kipling, hands shaking, rushed forward. "It's a disaster! Someone dug up my bank statements!" "And? What of it..." Gavin was about to dismiss the concern, suggesting Kipling's modest transactions couldn't possibly cause trouble, when he suddenly paused, eyes widening. "Which account are you talking about?!" "The one I use to transfer funds to you." Kipling's voice trembled, panic written all over his face. "Gavin, what do we do now?! They're accusingof taking bribes, and the court's started looking for the source of the rumors! I'm out of options! The department head's already calling for an investigation!" The normally imposing figure was on the verge of tears.

Madeline wrapped herself in a coat and stepped out, bypassing greetings to rush to Gavin's side. "Gavin, you have to help Kipling. He's my only brother. If it weren't for him, I hate to think how our parents would've treated me." "Gavin, please, I beg of you," Kipling pleaded, dropping to his knees with a hopeful look in his eyes. "Do it for my sister's sake. I'm begging you!" Gavin glanced at Madeline, his expression unreadable for the first time.

With a subtle gesture, he directed the staff to move aside.

The loyal butler, understanding the cue, signaled for the maids to escort Madeline back to her room. "Ma'am, it's chilly. You should go back inside." Madeline resisted, trying to approach Gavin again, only to be halted by his stern look.

Feeling a sharp pain in her heart, she realized Gavin wanted her out of this. Her gaze, once youthful despite her years, was fixed on Gavin, who seemed oblivious to her stare. Only when annoyed did he finally instruct, "Go back. I'll join you once I've sorted this out." "Alright." Dependent on Gavin for her and her daughter's well-being, Madeline couldn't risk confronting him for Kipling's sake. With a heavy heart and a silent retreat, she left, Kipling's pleas fading behind her.

Once Madeline was out of sight, Gavin turned to Kipling. "Your position at the education department is untenable now. The only option is to wait for the scandal to die down." "But what about the legal issues? My reputation's in ruins. I might end up in jail!" Kipling's voice broke, hinting at the chaos that would ensue should he spill Gavin's secrets.

Gavin remained unfazed. "Don't worry. As my brother-in-law, I won't let you go to prison. I've made arrangements. You'll just be detained briefly, nothing to fear." He continued, "However, Rivenwood is no longer safe for you. You might need a new identity. Lay low in the countryside for a few years, then we'll see." When Harrison arrived at the estate, the butler informed him of Kipling's visit. Entering the living room, he caught the tail end of Gavin's falsely reassuring promises.

Exchanging glances with Victoria, they both understood the gravity of Gavin's words, aware of the uncertain fate that awaited those who crossed him.

Together, they stepped into the living room.

Gavin's gaze flickered, a master of manipulation at work.

Gavin, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation, couldn't muster the will to argue anymore. With a dismissive wave, he signaled for the butler to see him out. "Alright, that's settled then. Go back, pack your things. Your living expenses for the past few years, I'll have someone transfer it to your account. Better head off now, I've got more pressing matters to attend to." Kipling didn't want to leave. But realizing he was no match for the situation, he barely moved before two burly guards half-dragged, half-escorted him out of the Abernathy estate.

Victoria's gaze, almost imperceptibly, shifted following Kipling's retreating figure before turning back around. Her eyes unintentionally met Harrison's. She trembled slightly, then offered a faint smile.

Harrison's face went through a quick succession of emotions before he turned away, focusing on Gavin, who was waiting for them to speak first. "Dad, did you call us here because there's news from the folks over at Emerald City?" Gavin shook his head. "No, not yet. But this is related. You know as well as I do that the potion from back in the day was harmless. So, I'm sending you back to what used to be the Littleton's lab. Ever since the Littletons fell from grace, we've had control over it. The original samples are still there. I want you to see if you can develop a similar, but toxic variant. It'll be a good countermeasure against Vivienne's tactics." "But, with the court date approaching, I'm worried we might be pressed for time." A flicker of determination passed through Harrison's eyes. It had been ages since he last set foot in a lab. Gavin's words felt like laying the groundwork for shifting blin the future.