The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Beside him, Cormac was still pouring his heart out to Whitford.

With handcuffs around his wrists, tears brimmed in the man's eyes as he clutched his younger brother's hand, his voice choked with emotion, "Whitford, you've been through so much." Cormac's lips quivered, and just as he was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of Vivienne's icy stare drifting their way.

Suddenly feeling a pang in his stomach, Cormac's face went pale as he gripped Whitford's hand tighter, "Bro, you have to save me!" "You've always been the best to me. Please, help Vivienne win this case. Then I can be free again, I beg you!" His words were whispered so close to Whitford's ear that only those few nearby could hear.

Emrys tilted his head slightly, catching Whitford's hesitant look from the corner of his eye.

His murky eyes flashed with sharpness, and with a clear provocation in his tone, he said, "Cormac, don't make it hard for your brother. You saw the live broadcast, didn't you? For his old flame, he wouldn't even care about your life. Why else do you think that woman Vivienne could get us out so early?" His gruff voice, though unpleasant, struck Whitford's heart like a hammer.

His eyes suddenly filled with a murderous intent, "Emrys, I'd advise you to keep it straight, stop stirring trouble!" Emrys, now in a state of reckless abandon, not fearing Whitford's threats, retorted, "I'm just telling it like it is. But letwarn you, that girl Vivienne is capable of anything! If you mess up her plans, it's not just you, but your dear brother here who will pay dearly!" "You..." Whitford felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him.

In that moment, Whitford cto his senses.

He couldn't find the words to counter Emrys, his murderous gaze fading, replaced by confusion and struggle.

Emrys, once a favored figure by Gavin, easily read Whitford's turmoil and scoffed, "I'd save your schemes, if I were you. You know Vivienne and Percival's standings better than I do." "Do you really think you can protect Madeline against them?" The words, barely audible, pierced Whitford's heart like a sharp knife. Emrys, not feeling it was enough, continued, "You don't actually believe Harrison's words, do you?" "Whitford, cto your senses. What makes you so sure Madeline's child isn't Gavin's?" Right! That woman never loved him! Initially, to secure Gavin's help, she had even seduced him with her body, how could she possibly leave his child behind after achieving her goal?! "As witnesses for the plaintiff, what are your relationships to this case?" As the judge's clear voice echoed, the last shred of hesitation in Whitford's eyes was completely extinguished.

He stood up straight, no longer glancing towards Harrison or Madeline, and declared loudly, "I am one of the shareholders of Littleton Pharmaceuticals and a director of Schram Corporation. The defendant standing there is the current head of the Schram Corporation." "Whitford, have you lost your mind!" From the moment Cormac appeared, Harrison knew he couldn't win today.

Even with the potion they had developed, against the overwhelming facts, he stood no chance.

But he hadn't expected Whitford to expose himself so thoroughly, "What nonsense are you spouting? I... I've never met you!" A quick glance at the jury and Whitford suddenly smiled, "Never met? But I have years of investment records with Schram Corporation, as well as shareholding certificates and the Littleton family's share transfer agreement." "Whitford!" "Harrison, I know you're afraid of going to jail. But, things have cto this point, I can't cover for you anymore Whitford feigned a casual tone as he pretended to clean his ear, "Back then, to ensure Schram Corporation could successfully penetrate the mainland market, you posed as a poor student..." Despite being isolated in a cell for years, hardly speaking to anyone, Whitford's voice wasn't pleasant.

But as a former international crfigure, his storytelling was top-notch. In just a few words, he laid bare the intricate conspiracy that took place years ago for all to see.

Griffin was hearing about these schemes for the first time, his eyes wide and mouth agape: This man, quite the strategist with affairs of the heart.

Even Leopold, who knew sof the inside story, found it different hearing it from the perpetrator's perspective. Sdetails Kaitlyn hadn't noticed before were brought to light by Whitford, making even a normal listener click their tongue in astonishment: Harrison, what a ruthless man.

Anna rubbed her arms, "Guess you really can't just pick up men from the roadside, huh? Harrison completely played Kaitlyn. What was he thinking, coming up with such a rotten plan?" Sitting beside her, Kenneth looked outraged, "Scumbag! How dare he claim he's innocent! Anna, don't worry, I'll never be like Harrison, I won't let you down!" Anna: Thanks, but there's no need.

Thomas silently moved a seat away, thinking: Why am I the only single one here? On the other side, Victoria, though familiar with the process, was hearing the detailed plan for the first time.

As Whitford's words cto an end, she felt chills running down her spine, "Thank goodness, I never liked Harrison. Such a despicable man, utterly heartless!" Murmuring to herself, she didn't notice the furious expressions on Gavin and Harrison's faces on the stage, ready to burst into curses at any moment! But Vivienne wasn't about to give them a chance to argue back. Before Whitford's words had even finished echoing in the room, Emrys chimed in, "I was one of the actors in the Schram family's play back in the day That gentleman sitting over there, the head of the Abernathy family, also known as Harrison's father-in-law, is my own brother." "They manipulated my feelings, madework for them, framing the Littleton family's drugs for safety issues." Emrys spoke with a calm that seemed almost detached, as if recounting someone else's tale, "This gentleman by my side is Cormac, the very person who was claimed to have died from the Littleton family's medications. He et never died. Instead, the Abernathy family and the Schram family collaborated to swap his body with a fake one!" "The tragedy that befell the Littleton family years ago was all a conspiracy concocted by the Schram and Abernathy families!" mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflo&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fifl0&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1