The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 253

Richard strode in, making a beeline for Vivienne.

"Vivienne, let's go. Let's head back home. I've had it with these godforsaken Brooks!" Richard barked. "Once you're with the Ellingtons, no one would dare cross you. I'd break their legs if they tried!" "Unlike this bunch of hypocrites who claim to love you but let others treat you badly! Pretentious snobs! We won't play their game."

Scott and Judith were dumbfounded.

He might as well have named them outright.

Scott coughed. "Richard, you've misunderstood..."

Before he could finish, Richard cut him off with a tirade. "Misunderstood? Do I look like a fool to you? Can't I see whether you're genuinely kind to Vivienne or just making life difficult for her? Scott, you pleaded with Vivienne to come back for what? Do you see what is happening now? Is your love and fatherly persona already worn out now that she's back?

As long as I am alive, I won't let anyone bully Vivienne. Isn't she better off with the Ellingtons, where she can live in the lap of luxury? Why should she stick around here and put up with your crap? Today, I am taking Vivienne home! No ifs, ands, or buts about it!"

Scott fell silent. He didn't even get a chance to speak.

The rest of the Brooks family members didn't dare utter a word.

Richard's temper was even more volatile than their old man's.

Speaking up at this moment was tantamount to walking into a minefield.

"Richard!" Paula scowled. "This is the Brooks family residence, not the Ellingtons! You can't just barge in here and hurl insults. That's way out of line!"

She glanced at Vivienne, icily adding, "Vivienne is only engaged to Percival. Whether they'll even get married is still up in the air. So, stop referring to her as your granddaughter-in-law. A Brooks daughter isn't obliged to marry into the Ellington family. She is a Brooks, so she has no reason to go back with you!"

"Oh?" Richard turned to Paula as a grin slowly played on his lips. "I haven't even started with you, and you're already getting defensive?"

Paula arched an eyebrow, unflinching under Richard's gaze.

"SMACK!"

Richard wielded his cane, striking Paula without hesitation. He then began another tirade. "Who the hell do you think you are? Who gave you the audacity to lecture me? Just because you have a mouth for swearing you think can talk to me? Is it filled with maggots or crap?

You're not getting any younger, and you're still so ugly! Always running back to your parents' house and causing them trouble! Only a coward like Baron would tolerate you. If you were my daughter-in-law, I would've broken your damned legs!"

"You!" Paula's face was twisted with rage.

This damned old man.

He got a foot in the door and thought he owned the place?

"Really? Have the Brooks family rules gone topsy-turvy? A married daughter is just causing a ruckus in her parents' home, and no one can rein her in?" Richard glanced at Judith, who was standing silently off to the side, and huffed. "If you can't handle her, have Baron give me a call. I'll take care of it for you!"

With that, he hit Paula again with his cane as he barked like a vicious Pitbull. "I'll make sure she learns her lesson!"

"Enough!" Paula roared, "What happens in this family is none of your business! Get out!"

"SMACK!"

No sooner had Paula finished speaking did Judith slap her hard across the face, shouting, "Shut up!"

Paula, her hand on her cheek, looked at Judith in disbelief. "Mom, you hit me?"

Judith had never laid a hand on her before. Now she had slapped her in front of all these people?

"I've pampered you too much! You've lost all sense of respect! Richard is your elder, and you tell him to get lost?! Is that the etiquette of a Brooks daughter?" Judith's face was stern. "We've been patient with you because we knew you were hurting after losing your child, but that's no excuse for your reckless behavior.

If you're upset with your brother, take it up with him. Why are you taking it out on Vivienne? She's only just arrived, and you've been causing trouble. She hasn't complained, but today, you've clearly crossed the line. I am utterly disappointed in you!"

"But I was..."

Before Paula could argue, Judith glared at her. Then she turned to Richard with a smile. "Richard, I apologize for the misunderstanding today. I assure you that we will make it up to Vivienne. She is a Brooks, so she has no reason to go back with the Ellingtons. Don't you agree?"

Richard scoffed. "I disagree! She is my granddaughter-in-law, so she should go back to the Ellingtons! If your family is going to bully her, why should she stay here? To be a punching bag?" Judith fell silent yet again.

This old man didn't mince his words.

She forced a smile, saying, "I promise, this won't happen again."

"Your promise is worthless. Get Baron on the line!"

Feeling helpless, Judith turned to Cecilia, who had come with Richard. "Cecilia, our two families have been close for many years. Could you please talk some sense into Richard? This hostility isn't good for either family."

Cecilia met her stare. A polite smile graced her face as she said, "Judith, I really can't dissuade him. You know how much my father-in-law adores Percival, and he's my one and only son. Now that I have a daughter-in-law, she's the apple of our family's eye.

Do you really think we would sit idle if our beloved was bullied by your kin? Not only would my father-in-law not let it slide, I wouldn't either! So, today, we're here to take Vivienne back. You've neglected her for nineteen years, so it doesn't matter whether you take care of her or not from now on. We, the Ellingtons, can look after her for a lifetime!"

Her voice was light, yet everything she said stung like needles, piercing into Judith's and Scott's hearts.

They had failed Vivienne for nineteen years. They had finally found her, hoping to make amends, but before they could, this happened. They felt a burning shame.

Calista, who had been silent for a while, watched as Vivienne was fiercely defended by the Ellingtons, making her feel a surge of envy.

Why did that country bumpkin deserve this?

Just as the atmosphere was becoming strained, a car horn sounded from outside the Brooks Mansion.

The Brooks all tensed up. They were in trouble. The patriarch was back.

The next moment, they saw Baron hobbling in, his face as stormy as the sky on the eve of a disaster.

Judith hurriedly approached him. "Why are you back?"

Baron seemed slightly less frosty towards Judith, but when he looked at the younger generation, his gaze was icy. "If I didn't come back, you people would be running amok!"