The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 212

Late at night, in Jewel Park.

The news of the upcoming union between the Ellingtons and the Brooks had just broke, so Beatrice had called Arabella immediately.

The Brooks were not fond of Arabella's interactions with Beatrice, so she had to sneak out to meet her in Jewel Park.

Beatrice stood near a staircase, watching Arabella approach wearing a baseball cap and a mask. She chuckled coldly. "Arabella, you've come up in the world. It's a struggle just to see you." It took countless calls just to arrange this meeting.

She finally understood what Michael and Joseph Hawthorn meant. Arabella was just a fair-weather friend. No matter how much Beatrice loved Arabella, as soon as Arabella had a taste of the high life, she didn't care about her anymore.

"Granny, what are you talking about?" Arabella forced a laugh. "I've been busy preparing for the college entrance exam lately."

"Oh really? Or is it because the only one you call 'Granny' now is that old hag, Judith?!" Beatrice gave a cold huff.

Initially, she had planned to get Arabella into the Brooks family, hoping that Judith and Scott would help her revive the Hawthorns.

Unexpectedly, the Brooks family took Arabella back but only thanked her with a small sum of money. They bought them an apartment and said that once Arabella got into Rivenwood, they would transfer the ownership of Hawthorn Mansion to her.

Rubbish!

Was this what she wanted?

She wanted the resurgence of the Hawthorn Group.

"Of course not, Granny. You're overthinking. You raised me; I'm loyal to you." Arabella hid the disgust in her eyes, but she sneered in her heart.

Beatrice's late husband was Baron Brooks' cousin, whom Baron's father favored and wanted to pass the family's leadership to.

Unfortunately, Baron was shrewd in his youth and managed to take control of the family.

Beatrice was not satisfied and encouraged her husband to cause a lot of trouble, which led Baron to banish them from the Rivenwood, so they moved to Havenwood.

It was said that Beatrice was ruthless back then, almost causing Judith, who was pregnant with Melissa, to lose her life.

Baron almost killed Beatrice, but it was her husband who begged for mercy and promised to take her far away, never to return to Rivenwood.

So there was a reason why Judith despised Beatrice and didn't want Arabella to be in contact with her.

"Now that you're the heiress of the Brooks family and soon to be married into the Ellington family, it's time to fulfill your promise." Beatrice didn't want to beat around the bush with Arabella. "I'm not asking for much. Just give me two billion dollars."

"Two billion?!" Arabella exclaimed. "Where am I going to replace two billion for you? Even if I go back to the Brooks family, my allowance is only a few."

Beatrice sure was bold.

"Aren't you going to marry Paul?" Beatrice said coldly, "Percival casually gave Vivienne a set of jewelry worth fifty billion. So, can't Paul, the eldest grandson of the Ellington family, afford a two billion?" "The wedding gift for Vivienne was only 88,000, so how could I ask for two billion? How would the Ellington family look at me?!" Arabella almost bit her teeth. She couldn't mention that she had traded other terms for Paul to marry her. He certainly wouldn't give her two billion.

Paul resented her for making him the scapegoat.

"How can you compare Vivienne's status to yours?" Beatrice scoffed. "You're the heiress of the Brooks family. A two billion is not excessive. The benefits that the Brooks family can bring to Paul definitely exceed two billion. Plus, aren't you carrying the Ellington family's heir?"

Beatrice laughed again as she looked at Arabella's dark expression. She obviously did not want to agree. "Arabella, have you been the heiress of the Brooks family for so long that you've forgotten who you really are?"

"Granny?" Arabella froze.

"Don't forget, you're a fake!" Beatrice laughed. "Without my help, you would never have become the heiress of the Brooks family!"

"I sold the perfume formula my third son gave me for a measly 100 million to help you deceive everyone! Did you know that Judith and Scott had two more paternity tests done behind your back?

If I hadn't been watching them and helping you, your identity would have been exposed long ago! Now, I want you to repay me twenty times the amount. That's not too much, is it?"

Arabella was stunned. She didn't know that the Brooks family had two more paternity tests done behind her back. She pursed her lips and said, "How about this? Granny, I'll help you buy back that perfume formula."

If it was just a couple of thousand dollars, she could still use the excuse of repaying Beatrice's kindness to coax Judith and Scott to help her out.

"Haha. That recipe has already gone into production." Beatrice shook her head. "Even if you get it back, it's worthless. Besides, how could a single recipe bring the Hawthorn Group back from the brink? Two billion, not a cent less!"

"Granny, you're driving me to my grave!" Arabella ground her teeth.

"How am I driving you to anything?" Beatrice chuckled as her eyes gleamed with malice. "I gave you a life of luxury and elevated you to a position you could only dream of. It's only right you repay me." She stepped closer as her hand ghosted over Arabella's stomach. Her voice dripped with a malevolence that made Arabella shiver. "And while we're on the subject, is the child in your belly really Paul's? Or could it be Elijah's? Or maybe one of the patients at the N&S Psychiatric Hospital?"

Arabella's refusal to help her had worn her patience thin. She wouldn't have resorted to threats if it weren't for Arabella's stubbornness.

"Arabella, be a good girl, and Grandma won't have to reveal your secrets."

"Shut up!" Arabella shrieked, swatting Beatrice's hand away.

Beatrice, already in her sixties, staggered back from the force of Arabella's push.

Behind her lay the staircase. Her hands flailed in the air, but she couldn't grab onto anything. She tumbled backward down the stairs, struggled for a moment, then lay still.

Arabella stood there, frozen in shock.

The staircase was stained with blood, and under Beatrice's twisted body was a pool of slowly spreading crimson.

"Grandma?" She called out tentatively as her voice shook.

Beatrice lay there, motionless.

Afraid but trying to stay calm, Arabella cautiously stepped down the stairs and knelt beside Beatrice. She reached out to check her breath.

It was weak, but she was still alive.

Arabella took out her phone to dial 911, but her fingers froze over the keys.

If Beatrice passed away, she wouldn't have to worry about her threats anymore. There would be no one left who knew she wasn't Scott's biological daughter.

Beatrice was always careful, ensuring her two dim-witted sons never revealed family secrets during their booze-filled outings. So, Michael and Joseph genuinely believed she was a part of the Brooks family.

As for the Brooks, they had already conducted three paternity tests, so there was no need for another.

Even if Scott and Judith continued to have doubts, she could always replace ways to deceive them.

With a cold glance, Arabella turned off her phone. A malicious idea came to her mind.

She bent down, used a handkerchief to wrap around Beatrice's finger, and used the blood to write the name 'Vivienne' on the ground.

After straightening herself up, she looked at the name as a satisfied and eerie smile appeared on her lips.

Vivienne, you can take the blame for murdering Grandma!