The Million-Dollar Heart

Huxley dashed toward Mara, who had collapsed on the ground.
Mara struggled to even lift her head, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at Huxley. "The Ellingtons bullied me!
Vivienne... she stepped on my back, I think she broke my bones! And she slapped me, my face is all swollen. Huxley, please, we
need to get out of here!"
Her sobs were relentless, her hands gripping Huxley's arms as if he were her lifeline.
Huxley's eyes flickered with a hint of disgust and calculation. From the moment he entered and saw Mara's condition, he knew
their plan had failed. Their attempt to sabotage Nathan had obviously been exposed.
Mara, always the weak link, how could she be his sister? Now, she was nothing but a burden, forcing him to clean up her
messes. Watching her cry, Huxley felt an overwhelming sense of annoyance. It was clear they could no longer stay with the
Ellingtons, but the show must go on.
Crying out, he lamented, "Aunt Cecilia, you've never treated us like family, letting Vivienne treat my sister like this. If you're all so
fake, then we don't want to stay in this house anymore!"
"Let us go now. I need to get my sister medical help. If she's paralyzed, I swear I won't let this go!"
His voice was weak; they were truly in a dire situation. If not for Mara's current state, he would never dare to speak up like this.
If Cecilia hadn't taken one of Vivienne's calming pills, she might have fainted from anger by now.
Before she could respond, Nathan, seizing the opportunity to vent, kicked Huxley with all his might, shouting, "If it weren't for
Cecilia's kindness, you two would have nowhere to go! Ungrateful dogs! And now, you have the nerve to insult your aunt!"
Huxley grunted in pain, his face contorting in agony as he struggled to pick up Mara.
Mara, already in severe pain, screamed even louder when Huxley lifted her, cursing her weakness.
"Today, you have to let us go!" Huxley insisted, sweat drenching his back.
Percival rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms, the air of authority unmistakable as he approached, "The
Ellington family decides who speaks here."
Percival was smiling, but his eyes were cold.

Huxley felt a chill down his spine, holding Mara even tighter, not daring to move.
Vivienne leaned against the wall, her cold gaze fixed on Huxley and Mara, her heart even colder.
Mara, terrified, shrank further into Huxley's embrace.
When a servant whispered to Percival that they found nothing, Vivienne, always sharp, understood the implication. The drug had
been disposed of by Huxley earlier.
Vivienne smirked, not worried. She
walked into the bathroom, and with precision, discovered the hidden
drug capsule in the shower drain, its content meant to erase Nathan's memory of the night's events.
When Vivienne and Percival emerged, Mara knew their scheme was fully exposed. She trembled with a mix of fear and hatred.
Percival, holding the drug, coldly accused Mara, "Daring, aren't you? Attempting to drug my father and erase his memory? Do
you have a death wish?"
Before Mara could respond, Huxley dropped her to the ground. She whimpered in pain, her body a mess of agony.
Huxley, in a desperate attempt to distance himself from his sister's actions, pleaded with Percival and Vivienne, fearing their
notorious retribution more than death itself.
Seeing Percival and Vivienne
unmoved, he lunged towards Cecilia,
"Auntie we're family, after all, I'm begging you to save me. I didn't do anything, none of this has anything to do with me!"
Cecilia's eyes sparkled with cold amusement, Just a moment ago, you were cursing me, saying we're not family, And now, we're
family again! Don't come to me with your problems. You and your sister are two peas in a pod, I've seen your true colors now! My
kindness was wasted on you!"
Vivienne's gaze fell on the two in front of her, radiating a chilling aura, "Heartless as a wolf? Then maybe you should stay in my
kennel!"

"Mr. Wolf, what do you think?"
Percival rubbed Vivienne's head, smiling affectionately, "You've read my mind, my dear. Whatever you say, goes."
With that, Vivienne slipped a pill into each of their mouths. Their limbs stiffened, as if they were plunged into the depths of eternal
ice, the cold piercing to the bone.