The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

The engagement party finally wrapped up.

Almost everyone from the Ellington family left when the elders did, except for Percival's family of four. The rest of them had a gloomy look on their faces.

The relatives from the Hawthorn side also took their leave, leaving only a few folks from the Hawthorn Mansion.

As soon as Beatrice saw the Ellington family leaving, she immediately blocked Dorian's path. "Dorian, when are you going to give me that thing?"

Dorian looked at Beatrice, feeling a bit let down, but deep inside, he still had some hope. "Mom! Have you really decided? For that thing, you're willing to give up on me, your son?"

Without any hesitation, Beatrice answered, "You're the one who gave up on me, not the other way around. You've been defying me over and over again for a woman. If you don't care about me or our Hawthorn family, then I'll just not consider you as my son. Give me the thing, and from then on, we're no longer related. And I don't need you to look after me either."

Even though he had anticipated that, Dorian was still deeply hurt.

His own mother was willing to cut ties with him for her own benefit.

Even though they had already severed ties before, it was never a complete break. But that time, Beatrice was serious about cutting him off completely.

Dorian glanced at Cordelia, Vivienne, and Thaddeus, took a deep breath, and said, "We're all worn out today. Let's get some rest, and I'll go to Hawthorn Mansion tomorrow to personally hand the thing over to you."

Dorian looked at Beatrice with a serious look and said, "If you've decided to give up on me, then call your lawyer over tomorrow. We'll get everything notarized. That's it."

Without waiting for Beatrice to respond, Dorian left with Vivienne and the others.

Outside the hotel, the sunlight was blinding, but it felt especially warm. A tear welled up in Dorian's eye as he stood under the sun, not saying a word.

Cordelia and Vivienne stood by his side, not disturbing him.

Thaddeus, still too young to understand why his dad was upset, obediently tugged at his hand. "Dad, don't cry. Thaddeus will always be with you."

Thaddeus's voice brought Dorian back to reality. He gently patted Thaddeus's head and wiped away the tear from his eye. "Dad's not crying. I just got something in my eye." Cordelia took his hand and said gently, "Dorian, let's go home."

Dorian nodded, "Alright, let's go home."

In that moment, he suddenly had a realization.

Why should he be upset?

Having or not having those relatives from the Hawthorn family didn't matter anymore.

Back in the hotel.

After Dorian's family left, Michael approached Beatrice with a worried look and asked, "Mom, do you think Dorian will really hand over the thing?"

"We've asked him for it countless times before, but he always insists he doesn't have it. Why would he suddenly have it now?" Joseph also asked. "Could Dorian be lying to us?"

"I can't be sure about anything else, but Dorian is definitely telling the truth about this," Beatrice replied coldly. "Ah, this ungrateful son of mine. I knew he was bewitched by that woman, Evelyn. He was indifferent to our family's difficulties and refused to help."

Every time that topic came up, Beatrice would get angry.

She had subtly asked him many times over the past few years, and every time Dorian would say Evelyn left him nothing. If they hadn't made such a scene at Vivienne's engagement party, they would've never gotten their hands on that thing.

Michael let out a sigh of relief, "If Dorian's willing to hand over the thing, then the Hawthorn family can be saved. We might even prosper more. That thing is worth more than ten million dollars."

Beatrice nodded. The thought of getting the thing soon cheered her up significantly. She said to Michael, "You better call the lawyer and have him come to the house tomorrow. Dorian has made up his mind, and if we don't do as he says, he might change his mind. Call Dorian early tomorrow and get this sorted out as soon as possible."

"Alright, I'll call now." Michael took out his phone and walked off to make the call.

Arabella bit her lip as she looked at Beatrice, seeming like she wanted to say something.

Seeing that, Beatrice said, "Arabella, if you have something to say, just say it. We're all family here."

After a moment of silence, Arabella said, "Grandma, I heard Michael say that the thing Dad has is worth more than ten million dollars. Why didn't Dad sell it after he left?"

"What else could it be for? Of course, it's for love!" Beatrice said regretfully. "Your dad is someone who values emotions a lot. Once he sees a woman, he loses control. First it was Evelyn. Now it's Cordelia. These two women are the bane of my Hawthorn family."

"But Evelyn, Vivienne's mom, has passed away. What's the point of Dad keeping the thing?" Arabella didn't understand.

"Let's not mention Evelyn. It's bad luck." Beatrice felt uncomfortable every time Evelyn was brought up.

Arabella nodded and didn't say anything more.

Beatrice looked at her and took her hand, whispering, "Arabella, there's something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it, Grandma?"

"I want you to get close to Percival, win his heart, and then marry him!"

Arabella was stunned. She didn't expect her and Beatrice to have the same idea.

Seeing her silent, Beatrice thought she disagreed and said in a gentle voice, "I was against your marriage to Percival before because he was disabled and seemed like a no-hoper. But now, it seems like that's not the case at all. His leg probably wasn't just healed recently, but a long time ago."

"And also, he's not a no-hoper. How could Richard hand over the Ellington Group to him if he was? He's been pulling our leg, testing us, and we all fell for it, Arabella. We've already missed one shot. We can't afford to miss another."

"You saw how well the Ellingtons treat Vivienne. As the heir, Percival is the master, and Vivienne is the mistress. She can call the shots. But look at Vivienne. Is she really cut out to be the mistress? I know you're not a fan of Percival, but for your future and the Hawthorn family's, you might have to bite the bullet."

Beatrice had no idea that Vivienne held two PhDs, and Arabella didn't spill the beans.

She had been planning on winning Percival back anyway. So Beatrice's idea was right up her alley.

She didn't show her true feelings but lowered her head, looking like a well-behaved and sensible child, "Granny, I'll back you up on this."

"Good! That's my considerate granddaughter!" Beatrice said with a pleased smile.