The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

A pair of watery eyes stared directly at Gavin. "You gotta believe me. I had nothing with him before. When you married Holly, I was cornered into it..." Her challenging gaze sneakily glanced at Victoria, and him, it was all for show, no real feelings. Besides, you promised you wouldn't marry Holly..." Griffin watched the scene unfold, noticing Victoria's expression darkening. He nudged Leopold, "Hey, hey, look at that old hag, bringing up Vivienne's aunt like that. To be a homewrecker with no shame, that's a first for me.” Leopold snorted, his eyes filled with mockery, "Ms. Martinez, you should know, there are all sorts in this world. Confusing lack of morals for talent, their values are nothing like ours." Thomas thought: These two, birds of a feather.

"Gavin..." Leopold and Griffin had no intention of holding back, their comments loud enough for their corner of the room but not quite reaching the stage. Victoria's lips curved into a brief smirk, which quickly faded.

Madeline's face turned from red to purple. Ignoring the situation, she buried her face in Gavin's chest, "Look at them, they're all shaming me!" Gavin rolled his eyes, guilt flashing across his face. "The Martinez family, didn't your father teach you any respect for your elders? No manners!" The Martinez family and the Abernathy family had always been at odds, and Griffin wasn't scared. "A homewrecker has no right to be my elder!" "Mr. Abernathy should worry about keeping his own house in order. Wouldn't want to be the last to know he's been cuckolded!" Their exchange was lively, unbeknownst to them that on the stage, Whitford's gaze had not left Madeline for a moment. Especially when he saw her rush into Gavin's arms, his aura turned sharply fierce. Even the handcuffs seemed to clatter in response. Harrison, achieving his goal, smirked with barely concealed triumph. “Whitford, got nothing to say?" The crowd speculated on Harrison's confidence and Whitford's focus, unaware of the unfolding. Whitford finally tore his gaze from Madeline, his expression unreadable. Vivienne watched silently, her eyes cold and calm.

As Whitford seemed to make a crucial decision, Jerry, following Vivienne's instructions, chose his moment. Before Whitford could speak, Jerry raised his hand, "Your Honor, we have another witness.” The room tensed for a moment at his words. The judge, slightly amused yet frustrated, hoped for a conclusive testimony, longing for the day's end.

Leopold's excitement was palpable, slapping Thomas's thigh in anticipation. "Here it comes, Vivienne's big move!" Thomas, in pain, pushed him away. "Easy there! I get it, the big reveal. Hit yourself next time!" Leopold replied, "Was I hitting you? No wonder it didn't hurt." Thomas: ...Numb to it...

Griffin sympathized with Thomas's plight from the sidelines. Anna, quietly observing, thought: Typical Husky, never serious... Amidst their banter, the courtroom doors opened. Led by Emrys, the small band from Emerald City entered, drawing everyone's attention.

"Why is he here?!" Gavin exclaimed in a whisper, panic in his eyes. For a brief moment, Victoria thought she could feel Gavin's breath shake. She smirked, unseen, "Isn't that Mr. Abernathy? Dad, didn't you say he was dead?" Gavin turned pale, avoiding her gaze. "How would I know? Who knows what Vivienne's up to, dragging in an impostor!" Victoria's soft voice was chilling. "Yet this Mr. Abernathy hasn't taken his eyes off you." Gavin stiffened as he reluctantly met Emrys's gaze. The plaintiff's witness area was crowded, with the "lost Abernathy" occupying significant space, overshadowing the invited professors huddled in a corner. Standing at the center of the courtroom, flanked by Nieand Cormac Abernathy, was Emrys, a man who had seemingly cback from the dead. He faced away from the judge, his eyes-a mix of deep resentment and sorrow-fixed intently, yet distantly, on the man he once considered a brother. The close bond between Cormac and Whitford only served to deepen the cut in Emrys's heart. With a bitter smile, Emrys slowly turned to Gavin, "Big brother, I heard you turned our mother to ashes, did you?" "No, who told you that?!" Gavin instinctively retorted, “I didn't, I never did!" Idiot! et Harrison's heart pounded like a drum, his breathing becoming rapid. A cold, tangible gaze settled on Gavin, silently cursing him. Bill, who had been quietly observing the scene, leaned in and whispered, "These people, are they important?" Harrison choked on his words, his expression indescribable. "Sort of..." How could he explain that the people sitting across from them, the Littleton family, were supposed to have died in an accident ten years ago? And yet, here they were, as if resurrected! Meanwhile, Emrys, knowing Gavin better than anyone else as his brother, could clearly see the panic in his eyes. The last shred of hopean Emrys's heart shattered. "Is that so?" Emrys asked, the question hanging ambiguously in the air, directed either at himself or at Gavin. Without waiting for a reply, Emrys turned to face the judge directly, his gaze unwavering.