The Million-Dollar Heart

Cecilia was on the phone, her voice cracking through sobs of despair.
Percival frowned deeply, "What in the world is going on?"
"Your dad, I caught him cheating!" Cecilia's voice was almost a shout, overwhelmed by the shock of what she had witnessed.
Percival paused, not quite comprehending, "What did you say?"
His dad caught cheating?
That had to be a joke.
Everyone who knew Nathan was aware of his devotion to his wife.
Cecilia had been the apple of Nathan's eye for years, never wanting for anything.
And now she was talking about catching him cheating?
Percival thought it sounded like a bad punchline.
"Your dad and Mara Boyd..." Cecilia couldn't finish, breaking down into tears again.
Percival's expression darkened.
Mara?
He had almost forgotten about her!
Vivienne looked equally troubled. Cecilia had been nothing but kind to her, treating her like her own daughter, and she would not
stand for anyone causing her distress.
She had initially left Mara and Huxley Boyd because she knew they were connected to Abigail.
Although Vivienne could track down Abigail, finding her exact whereabouts was another challenge, given her elusive nature.
Her plan had been to deal with the Abernathy and Perez families first, then use Huxley to lure out Abigail.
It seemed they had made the first move.

Fine by her!
Seems like they were asking for trouble.
After a moment of silence, Percival sternly told Cecilia, "Vivienne and I will be right there."
He hung up the phone without another word.
What was usually a fifteen-minute drive turned into a twenty-minute race due to Cecilia's emergency.
Soon, Vivienne and Percival's car pulled up at the grand entrance of the Ellington estate.
They were greeted by two rows of neatly dressed servants waiting by the door, which closed firmly behind Percival and Vivienne
as they entered.
"Master, madam, you're finally here. The lady has been crying upstairs, threatening to divorce the sir!" the servant who had been
attending to Cecilia led them anxiously towards the staircase.
Cecilia was in the west-side room
upstairs, her eyes red and voice hoarse from crying, "Nathan, how could you do this to me? After all the years, the children we've
raised together, and now Isolde, taking care of this family while you... you end up in bed with my niece!"
"I can't face anyone after this."
Percival and Vivienne entered the room just in time to hear Cecilia's lament, their expressions turning icy.
Seeing her son and daughter-in-law, Cecilia's grievances poured out like a flood, "Percival, Vivienne, thank heavens you're here.
I can't take it anymore!"
She pointed accusingly at Nathan, who looked equally distressed, clad in his robe, "I don't know what happened. I woke up and
found her next to me! I can't remember anything else!" Despite his protests, Cecilia refused to listen, her heart broken.
"If Isolde finds out, I'll never forgive you, Nathan!"
Percival surveyed the room, his gaze landing on Mara, who was trying to hide behind Nathan.

He strode over, grabbed Mara by the collar, and threw her to the ground without a second thought. Her scream echoed as she hit
the floor, shocked at Percival's roughness, "Brother, how could you?"
Tears filled her eyes, but Percival was unyielding, "Tell the truth now, or it'll be worse for you." Mara tried to defend herself, but
Vivienne's slap cut her off, the force knocking her back to the floor. Vivienne stood over her, cold and menacing, "Say that
again?"
Mara shrunk back, too terrified to speak, as the gravity of her actions and their consequences finally sank in.
Vivienne cast a frosty glance at her, then turned to gently pat Cecilia's back, comforting her with a voice that was steady yet soft,
imbuing a sense of calm assurance, "Mom, take a deep breath and tell us everything you know, okay?"
Cecilia shot Mara a venomous look, regretting ever taking her in out of pity. Now, it seemed, she was the one truly deserving of
pity.
Tears still streaked her cheeks as
she stood up her steps wobbly. Vivienne supported her firmly as Cecilia moved to the edge of the bed and briskly pulled back the
covers,
revealing a stark red blo Covers,
against the white sheets that caught everyone's eye.
Nathan's face turned a shade of crimson, as if he had been sentenced to death, unable to utter a single word.
Only Mara, who had just been
reprimanded by Vivienne, seemed to momentarily forget the pain on her face. Her eyes, brimming with tears, fixed on Nathan as
she clung to his leg, "Uncle, I gave myself to you! All these years, I've been pure, and if you hadn't sneaked into my room last
night while I was asleep, I would still be innocent. I'm not even married yet!"
A flash of cunning flickered in her eyes, quickly disappearing as she continued to sob pitifully in Nathan's arms.
her?
As long as Nathan believed he had taken her virtue, even if the entire Ellington family turned their backs on her, Nathan's
character would compel him to protect her. What then, could Vivienne possibly do to