The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After hanging up the phone, Vivienne pushed open the window, staring at the blue sky outside with a

cold expression. “Mom, who did you piss off?”

She left the Hawthorn family when she was only nine. All she remembered was her mother being

bullied by Beatrice, but her mother always put up with it. At that time, she didn’t understand why her

mother, who was clearly a smart and capable person, would be bullied and not fight back. It wasn’t until

they left the Hawthorn family and found themselves pursued by various parties that she understood her

mother’s mysterious Muay Thai, Her mother wasn’t ignorant of resistance, she was evading those who

were after them.

Until one day, her mother received a call. She noticed her mother’s unusual expression, but due to her

young age and multiple escape experiences, she thought someone was after them again.

But that night, her mother committed suicide. Her mother ended her life with a poison she developed.

Before leaving, she told Vivienne to go to the Emerald Monastery to find Finnian, to learn Muay Thai

from him, and warned her not to leave the there for ten years and to hide her abilities. Her mother

made a special request that after her death, she should be cremated, and there was no need to erect a

tombstone.

Ten years later, she was to return to the Hawthorn family to find her father, Dorian, and fulfill her

engagement with Percival.

She did everything else. The only thing she didn’t do was marry Percival.

For the past ten years, she lived in the shadow of her mother’s death, she had to seek revenge, and

couldn’t let marriage hinder her. But now she found out that Percival was also involved in the events

back then.

The engagement was cancelled, so to find out the truth about the past, she had to find another way.

A burst of urgent knocking interrupted Vivienne’s thoughts. She opened the door, only to see Beatrice

barging in with a bunch of people.

About ten people squeezed into the small living room, including Beatrice’s eldest son, youngest son’s

family, and Arabella.

Their faces were filled with rage, especially when they saw Vivienne, as if they couldn’t wait to tear her

to pieces.

“Vivienne! You irresponsible girl! Who gave you the right to break off the engagement with the Ellington

family? You’ungrateful child! Do you even care about me anymore?”

The moment Beatrice saw Vivienne, her old and blurry eyes almost spit fire. She couldn’t believe that

Vivienne would unilaterally break off the engagement. If it wasn’t for Richard’s call, she wouldn’t even

know.

He’s call she wouldn’t eve

Since Vivienne just returned, the Hawthorn family hadn’t publicly announced her identity, so Richard

didn’t know that the person to be married to Percival was Vivienne, not Arabella. But Beatrice didn’t

care, as long as Richard wanted to get engaged with the Hawthorn family’s daughter, as long as

Vivienne went there, the Hawthorn family wouldn’t lose anything. But Vivienne actually broke off the

engagement!

Vivienne’s gaze was icy, and an aura of coldness emanated from her. She stared at Beatrice for a long

moment without saying a word.

“It was me who let Vivienne break off the engagement.” Dorian shielded Vivienne behind him and

spoke with a stern expression. “If you have a problem, take it up with me.”

Beatrice slapped him, her anger bursting. “You’re the one who betrayed the family. Do you know what

this marriage means to the Hawthorn family?” She didn’t want Arabella to marry Percival before, but

she didn’t really cancel the engagement. She just wanted to find a way that could get the Ellington

family’s investment and protect Arabella. But with Vivienne’s move, if it caused the dissatisfaction of the

Ellington family, the Hawthorn family’s company wouldn’t get a penny.

“What does it mean?” Dorian sneered. “Isn’t it just for your pride? You look down on Vivienne, so you’re

willing to sacrifice her?”

Dorian’s older brother Michael spoke up, frowning. “How can you say that about our mom? She’s doing

this for the Hawthorn family, and besides, the Ellington family said that Vivienne wouldn’t be mistreated

if she married over.”

“Yeah, although Percival has physical limitations, he’s from a wealthy family. Look at Vivienne, she

grew up in the countryside and didn’t receive higher education. She might not even have finished high

school, right? She’s nineteen now and can’t go to college, so she can only find some lowly paid jobs to

get by.” Dorian’s second brother Joseph added. “With her qualifications, she can only find jobs like

waitressing, her future partner can only be ordinary, so what’s wrong with marrying Percival? At least

she’d have a worry–free life.”

“Enough!” Dorian roared. “Vivienne is my daughter. I have the right to decide who she marries. No

matter how good Percival is, Vivienne won’t marry him.” “You!” Michael was so angry his face turned

red. “You’re unreasonable!”

Béatrice stared at Dorian and angrily said. “You are not in charge of this family. As the granddaughter

of the Hawthorn family, Vivienne should contribute to the family. The Hawthorn family doesn’t keep

freeloaders.”

“Ha!” Vivienne let out a cold laugh, her eyes filled with disdain.

Beatrice turned her head sharply, her eyes like venomous snakes. “What are you laughing at?”

Vivienne lifted her head, and her cold gazes fixed on Beatrice. “I’m laughing at your poor memory. It

seems like I haven’t spent a penny of yours since l was born. You never raised me. Why would you

expect me to contribute?”

She may had been young back then, but she still remembered that this granny of hers never even

bought her a single piece of candy. “You!” Beatrice was so angry she could hardly breathe, glaring at

Vivienne with a hint of resentment. This little brat sure had a sharp tongue. “Vivienne!” Michael shouted

angrily, “How can you talk to your grandmother like that? She’s your elder. Is this how your mother

taught you?”

Vivienne’s red lips curled slightly, her hands in her pockets, giving off a relaxed demeanor.“Sorry, my

mom’s dead, if you have any questions, you can go ask her in the underworld directly about how she

taught me?”

Michael’s face turned red, “You’re absolutely ill–mannered.”

Chapter 5

Vivienne’s nonchalant attitude annoyed the rest of the Hawthorn family too. But with Beatrice there,

everyone kept their mouths shut. However, the looks they gave Vivienne were as if they wanted to eat

her alive.

Vivienne just slightly lifted her chin, not caring about their looks at all.

Beatrice stared at Vivienne for a while, taking a deep breath before making an effort to suppress her

anger. Her tone softened slightly as she spoke. “This marriage was arranged by your mother. She

wouldn’t want anything bad for you, right? Richard also said that he hopes you could continue with this

engagement to Percival.”

Vivienne just smiled at her, without saying a word.

Beatrice frowned, and said coldly, “Vivienne, I want to remind you that the place you’re living in now is

provided by me, and if you don’t marry Percival, I’ll take back this apartment. In addition, your father will

be kicked out of the company. As long as I’m around, he won’t find a job in this city. Without money, he

won’t be able to support your family.”

Before Vivienne could say anything, Dorian stepped forward and said seriously, “You want the

apartment, then take it. I’m capable. I don’t believe I can’t support my wife and child. I won’t let

Vivienne fall into hardship.”

Beatrice was so angry she almost slapped him, but she held back, biting her teeth at Dorian, “Fine. You

have guts, I’d like to see how long you can last.” Beatrice said coldly, “I’m giving you an hour, move out

immediately.“