The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As soon as Judith’s venomous confession left her lips, the Brooks family was struck dumb. A stunned

silence filled the room, broken only by the clock ticking against the mahogany walls. No one could have

imagined that Judith, the seemingly gentle and kind-hearted matron of the Brooks family, harbored

such darkness in her soul.

Murder, born from the seeds of jealousy? And not just one, but ten lives snuffed out?

Baron, shaking with a barely contained rage, erupted. “You! You vile woman! Dahlia always treated you

like a friend, and this is how you repay her!”

Judith’s twisted sneer was like a knife. “Friend? My dear Baron, I played the doting friend just to

witness her fall from grace. It’s a pity, though…”

Her gaze shifted to Richard, her lips curling into a self-mocking smile. “Richard loved her too much. No

matter my plots, he always stood by Dahlia, even when I drugged her, never once did he doubt her

fidelity!”

She turned back to Baron, her eyes glinting with malice. “See? This is why she chose him over you.

You would’ve never trusted her if you had been in his shoes.”

Baron growled, “Bullshit! Dahlia was flawless in my eyes. I would always stand by her, no matter what.”

Judith’s laugh was a bitter sound that cut through the room. “After all these years, I’ve toiled for this

family, yet your heart never held a place for me. Even now, you sing Dahlia’s praises. But what good

does that do? She’s dead! I burned her beyond recognition. And her friends? They’re gone, too,

casualties of her downfall. Ha!”

Her laughter devolved into unhinged cackles. “You’re here to settle scores? To what end? Your so-

called evidence can’t pin anything on me. Even knowing I’m the murderer, you’re powerless, Baron.

Your hatred changes nothing. You’ll still have to face me every day.”

“You!” Baron, furious, swung at her, but Judith caught his wrist with a strength that belied her

appearance. “You think I’m helpless? If not for my love for you, the things you’ve done to me would

have sealed your fate ten times over!”

With a swift movement, she threw Baron to the ground.

Ronald, close by, rushed to help Baron back to his feet. As Baron stood, he looked at Judith in shock.

“You know how to fight?”

The irony was not lost on him. He had prided himself on being perceptive, yet he had never suspected

her of such fighting skills. She had indeed played her part well.

Judith leaned on her cane, her expression icy. “One needs to know a little self-defense in the Brooks

family or be left to wither. Since you despise me so, from now on, you’ll stay put in this house. If you’re

to die, you’ll die looking at me.”

Baron, speechless, received only a dismissive glance from Judith as she turned to Richard. “Richard,

the Brooks family no longer welcomes you. Take your grandson and leave my house. As for Percival

and Vivienne’s engagement…”

Her gaze landed on Vivienne, a cruel smile on her lips. “The paternity test might say Scott’s the father,

but I don’t buy it. Step out of line, and you’ll find no place in the Brooks family. But since you’re now

carrying a Brooks heir, you’ll abide by our rules. Your marriage to Percival? I don’t recognize it.”

“Don’t take my words lightly. I’m not an idiot like Beatrice. Feel free to try, but thread lightly.” Judith

tossed her cane aside, adjusting her hair with an air of finality. “I’ve played this charade for years. It’s

liberating to drop the act.”

Percival and Vivienne could not help but laugh at the spectacle, looking at Judith like looking at an idiot.

In the face of her unraveling, Judith’s composure was almost admirable, certainly a step above the

naivety of Beatrice.

Percival, hands in his pockets, raised an eyebrow. “Vivienne, got everything on tape?”

Vivienne’s smile was sly. “Every word.”

She played back the recording of Judith’s confession with a triumphant glint in her eye. “We’ve got all

we need.”

Judith’s rage erupted. “You tricked me?”

She had let her guard down, her rage toward Baron blinding her to the threat of modern technology.

She had believed their evidence insufficient but had not counted on being baited.

Percival’s smile widened. “Why bother with a lengthy investigation when the culprit hands you the

evidence on a silver platter? This recording is all we need to bring you to justice. Looks like your little

fantasy is over.”

Finding evidence about a crime so many years ago was difficult. Back then, Percival was still young,

and he had mistaken Judith for a kind and gentle lady. Plus, given the limited technology back then and

the fact that Judith took extra caution in cleaning her tracks, no one ever suspected her, including him.

The suspicions about Judith began when she insisted that Calista tutor Thaddeus. It was then that he

and Vivienne had their eureka moment.

They had always felt there was something off about Judith, so they delved into a thorough

investigation.

Even with today’s advanced technology, digging up evidence from years ago was no easy feat.

Together, he and Vivienne had managed to restore a key piece of evidence – a phone call from the

past.

As for the photographs, he had faked them. The ownerBooks Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay

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of the local restaurant where the original photos were taken had passed away years ago.

Other than the phone call, there was no solid proof linking Judith to the untimely death of their

grandmother.

That was when Vivienne suggested a bold move – to corner Judith into confessing the truth herself.

Ah!

Vivienne was indeed a clever woman!

The strategy worked like a charm!

Percival gave Thomas a knowing look, who discreetly tapped his hidden earpiece and ordered, “Arrest

her!”

Within moments, a swarm of law enforcement burst through the doors.

The lead officer approached Judith directly. “Ma’am, you are a suspect in a homicide case. Please

come with us for questioning.”

Judith’s face paled. “No! I won’t go!”

Not waiting for a response, she lashed out, trying to find an opening to escape.