The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 237

Percival's countenance cooled. He stepped forward to stand protectively beside Vivienne, his gaze hardening as he turned to Paula. His presence radiated an icy threat.

"Scott." Percival's voice cut through the tension. "It seems the Brooks family isn't too thrilled about Vivienne's return."

Paula was well aware of who Percival was, but his engagement to Vivienne was a secret kept within the confines of Havenwood, and so their relationship was not well known in Rivenwood.

"Percival, since when do the Ellingtons meddle in our family matters? Have you taken a shine to this little minx?" Paula's eyes switched between Vivienne and Percival as a cold smirk appeared on her lips. "Look at you, barely out of pigtails and already leading men on. Quite the precocious one, aren't you?"

"Paula!" Judith's stern rebuke echoed. "Watch your tongue! Mr. Ellington is Vivienne's betrothed!"

Paula's expression wavered. Bitterness began lacing her words as she shot a glance at Scott. "Your daughter sure is lucky. She reeled in such a catch."

"That's enough!" Scott's patience had worn thin. "If you have a problem with me, then take it up with me. Leave Vivienne out of it!"

"Oh, haven't you heard of the phrase, 'the sins of the father fall upon the child'?" Paula retorted. "Your daughter returns to a life of comfort and an engaged man, while my own has been missing for fourteen years! Why does your daughter get it all?"

Scott was at a loss for words. For years, his sister, Paula, had used this argument to chastise him.

He felt guilt and resentment, but Vivienne should not be the one to bear the brunt of it.

"Leading men on?" Vivienne laughed as her hands casually slipped into her pockets. "I heard you were barely nineteen when you drugged your husband-to-be, got pregnant, and marched over to the Miller family to demand a wedding, breaking up his engagement in the process. I must say, I can't hold a candle to you."

The room fell into an awkward silence. Paula's manipulation of her husband, Mark Miller, was no secret. Many remembered her tantrums in the Miller household and her relentless harassment of Mark's ex- fiancée.

This was the first time the truth about Paula drugging Mark was spoken out loud, even if it had been suspected all along.

Paula's face flushed with embarrassment. She hadn't expected Vivienne to be aware of her past indiscretions.

"How dare you speak to your aunt like this?!" A young man appeared at the top of the stairs, rushing to his mother's side with his hand raised to slap Vivienne.

Percival's eyes darkened at the audacity. Would he dare lay a hand on his fiancée?

Before he could react, Vivienne had already caught the man's wrist in mid-air, twisting it viciously.

"Ah!" The young man screamed in pain.

"Let go of my son!" Paula shrieked and lunged at Vivienne.

Vivienne side-stepped Paula, not letting go of the man's wrist but instead increasing the pressure. After causing him to collapse in pain, she addressed Paula. "What was it you said? 'The sins of the father fall upon the child'? By that logic, shouldn't your son bear the consequences for your actions?"

She held the man's arm at an unnatural angle; his excruciating pain was evident. "However, I'm not known for my gentle touch." She stated nonchalantly, "If he ends up injured, please don't hold it against me. After all, you started it, and don't forget, 'the sins of the mother fall upon the child.""

Percival watched her handle the situation with a smirk. This was his Vivienne. She would never let anyone walk over her. She seemed to be enjoying stirring up trouble in the Brooks house.

"Harlot!" Paula spat as she attempted to charge at Vivienne again, but one look from Vivienne froze her in her tracks. The threat in Vivienne's eyes was clear. Touch her, and her hand would be broken. "Mom!" Paula glared at Judith with a resentful expression. "You're just going to let her do this?"

"Wasn't it Eddy who started it?" Judith retorted coldly. "You were the one who insulted Vivienne first, but he attacked his own cousin without any reason. It's only fair that he gets a taste of his own medicine." Vivienne's sudden retaliation came as a shock to everyone.

Ashley was particularly surprised. Paula, her aunt, always had a superior attitude towards her. It was annoying, but she never dared rebuke her in person.

But Vivienne not only confronted Paula directly but also attacked Paula's beloved son, Eddy.

However, since it was Eddy who initiated the fight, nobody intervened, even though Vivienne's retaliation was fierce.

"Mom!" Paula cried out in desperation, but Judith remained indifferent.

Then she glared at Scott. "Scott, you've hurt my daughter. Are you going to let your daughter hurt my son too?"

Scott glanced at Vivienne. "Vivienne is right. I never raised her for a single day, yet you want to blame her for my mistakes. It's only fair that she blames your offenses on Eddy."

His gaze was cold, radiating the authority a head of the family should have. He continued, "Is my daughter someone who can be bullied? NO! Not even by Eddy, and certainly not by you."

Vivienne seemed unbothered by the various expressions on the faces of the Brooks family. She just kept tightening her grip, watching as Eddy's face turned pale from pain. Only then did she lean slightly towards him, speaking in a slow and menacing tone. "Remember this. I only acknowledge her as my aunt if I say so. If I don't, she is nothing."

With that, she finally let go of Eddy's wrist and put her hand back in her pocket.

"Brother, I heard Vivienne is back!" At that moment, Scott's brother, Timothy's laughter echoed from the entrance.