The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 207

Judith and Melissa's brows furrowed more deeply, while Timothy and Ronald's faces darkened.

"Has Arabella lost her mind?!" Ashley looked at Arabella in the video with disgust, which was quickly masked by anger. "Not only is she pregnant before marriage, but she now wants to pin the blame on Percival to make him the fall guy?!"

Ha!

As if she were even on his level!

A man like Percival was beyond Arabella's wildest dreams!

Ashley sneered inwardly but put on a face of grievance. "Mom, Grandma, this scandal has spread all over Havenwood. What if it reaches Rivenwood? What will people think of our family? My reputation will be ruined too! People will think I'm just as promiscuous as Arabella because we're cousins!"

Judith, of course, had thought of this as well. Just as she was about to reassure Ashley, Ronald's cell phone rang.

"It's Grandpa." Ronald's face turned grim, but he sighed and reluctantly answered the call.

Sure enough, Baron's furious roar came through the phone. "What the hell is Arabella thinking?! Pregnant before marriage is bad enough, but she's now trying to pin the blame on Old Richard's precious grandson?! She's got some nerve!"

Baron was livid. Ever since Arabella was accepted back into the family, he had been constantly bothered by Richard. The old man would often show up at his nursing home to taunt him. Unfortunately, Richard was always in the right, leaving Baron no choice but to swallow his pride.

He knew many old friends in the nursing home, and every time Richard came, they would gather around to watch the drama, enjoying how Richard scolded him like a wayward grandson. He felt like his stay at the nursing home was anything but restful.

Arabella, his newly recognized granddaughter, was literally driving him to an early grave!

After a harsh scolding from Baron, Ronald didn't dare argue. He could only nod and agree.

By the time Ronald hung up, Judith's face was ashen. She said to Timothy, "Call your older brother. Ask him why he didn't suppress the news when he was there. How did he let it spread like wildfire? Even the old man knows about it now!"

"Right."

Timothy quickly called Scott to ask what happened. When he hung up, he frowned and explained to Judith what he had been told. "Mom, big brother said he tried to suppress the news immediately, but the Ellington family stepped in."

The Brooks family fell silent. They were no match for the Ellingtons.

Arabella being exposed for her premarital pregnancy was bad enough, but she even tried to pin the baby on Percival.

Did she know who Percival was?

He was the next head of the Ellington family. He stood at the top of Rivenwood's Four Prominent Families.

If Percival decided to teach Arabella a lesson, they would be helpless.

"Mom!" Ashley checked her phone and groaned at Melissa. "Arabella's scandal has spread to our school! My classmates are asking me about it! There are even rumors on the school forum saying that I'm the one who's pregnant!"

She gritted her teeth in anger, knowing that Arabella's mess would tarnish her own reputation.

"Thank goodness you've already graduated." Melissa patted her daughter's hand, trying to comfort her. "By the time you start college, this will all be over."

Ashley's face turned even grimmer.

She was a bit resentful that the Brooks were so biased towards Arabella, who had not only caused such a scandal but also damaged her own reputation. Yet they asked her to keep the peace. Ashley was a girl Judith had watched grow up and loved. How could she not understand the grievance in her granddaughter's heart?

After a moment of silence, she said, "Let's wait until Scott and Arabella get back. Then we can figure out what really happened."

Just as she finished speaking, Scott walked in with a downcast Arabella. When they saw everyone's eyes on them, Scott knew they were waiting for them.

"Grandma, Uncle, Aunt." Arabella's pale face looked even paler as she called out cautiously.

"Sit down." Judith pointed to the couch.

Scott sat next to Timothy, and Arabella tried to sit next to Ashley.

But as soon as Ashley saw her coming, she got up with a dark face and moved to sit next to Melissa, not giving Arabella any face.

Arabella's gaze darkened for a moment, but she quickly covered it up with a pitiful look.

"Arabella, the news said you're pregnant. Is it true?" Judith asked in a deep voice.

Arabella nodded pitifully. She had no choice but to admit it. She had seen the news.

Her visits to the gynecologist had been exposed, and the Brooks family could easily replace out the truth with a simple investigation.

"Whose child is it?" Judith asked, barely suppressing her anger.

"It's... It's Paul's..." Arabella's gaze flickered as her voice grew smaller and smaller.

"What?!" Scott's brows furrowed. His face was a mix of shock and anger. "When did this start?"

"When I first went to Rivenwood..." Arabella's words were vague. She acted like she was a poor girl led astray. "I didn't know anyone, so I was scared, but Paul was so nice to me, so I just..."

"I see!" Judith retorted furiously as her laughter gradually grew tainted by anger. "Old Richard dares to pick a bone with our family?! This is all his grandson's fault! He caused this mess!" Ashley, however, glanced at Arabella with a hint of confusion.

She had never noticed Arabella being shy or reserved when visiting Rivenwood. In fact, she was quite the bold, dominating force.

Moreover, Ashley didn't think Arabella was romantically interested in Paul. It was quite the opposite. Arabella had always seemed to have an eye for Percival, a fact Ashley had witnessed numerous times. Why would Arabella allow herself to get pregnant with Paul's child if she was smitten with Percival?

"Call Paul right now!" Judith thundered while addressing Arabella. "He's responsible for this mess, and he owes us an explanation!"

Obediently, Arabella dialed Paul's number.

He arrived quickly, his face stern and cold.

His demeanor towards Arabella was far from the usual affectionate attitude. Instead, it was filled with a sense of distance and irritation.

After exchanging pleasantries with the Brooks family elders, Scott asked him, "Arabella claims she's pregnant. Is the child yours?" Paul cast a disgusted glance at Arabella.

Arabella stared back at him with eyes filled with a stern warning.

Irritated, he had no choice but to nod and confirm it. "Yes."

A sigh of relief escaped Arabella. She knew she could persuade Paul to take the fall, using the promise of benefits.

Upon leaving Cloudcrest High School earlier, she had already devised this plan to deal with the Brooks family's interrogation.

She'd sent a message to Paul, informing him that she would marry him if he agreed to claim her unborn child.

Being the most cherished daughter of the Brooks family, the wedding gift she'd bring to the Ellington family would certainly benefit Paul. Not to mention, the Brooks family would no doubt support him in his rivalry with Percival for the headship of the Ellington family.