The Million-Dollar Heart novel Chapter 515

When Percival arrived, he took one look at the ballroom's opulent decor—streamers of gold and silver, crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the sparkling crowd—and his face gradually darkened.

He stepped into the fray, and a crowd of well-dressed socialites immediately swarmed him.

"Mr. Ellington, what a surprise to see you gracing Sea City with your presence! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would've loved to treat you to dinner."

"Mr. Ellington, you really should've given me a heads-up about your visit. After the success of our last collaboration, I would have rolled out the red carpet for you!"

"And if anyone's going to roll out the red carpet, it should be me first. Mr. Ellington, Are you free tomorrow night?"

The crowd pressing around him represented the crème de la crème of Sea City's various industries, all of whom had previous dealings with the Ellington Group.

Percival handled the greetings with a practiced grace until Hayden made his way through the crowd.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I must borrow Percival for a moment. After the festivities, we'll find time to gather. My treat, agreed?"

Everyone understood that Percival was the man of the hour that evening, and naturally, no one objected.

After all, with Percival there, who would dare to interfere?

Hayden led Percival away to a private lounge in the back.

Wendy sat in a wheelchair, having missed her window for optimal treatment, resigned to a life bound to her chair.

"Percival, I assume you know what tonight is all about. If you play your cards right and get engaged to Gillian, we can all live peacefully. But if you refuse, well, don't say I did not warn you."

Percival chuckled at Wendy's threat. "And what are you going to do?"

Wendy smirked and waved her hand dismissively. Theodore produced a tablet; on it were scandalous photos of Cecilia and Vivienne.

Percival's eyes narrowed, a chill radiating from him. "Threatening me?"

Was it that his hands had been too clean for too long? Did the Boyd family really think they could use doctored photos to threaten him?

Wendy chuckled, "I know my daughter better than anyone. I'm aware of every mole on her body, so what if the photos are fake? I have plenty of ways to prove that it's Cecilia. As for Vivienne, it's enough that her face is recognizable. Even if you clear things up later, the damage will have been done. Are you willing to gamble with your mother and Vivienne's reputations?"

Percival looked at her, his gaze dispassionate.

After a moment, he straightened his cufflink with an air of indifference, his expression unreadable.

"Percival, have you thought it through?" Wendy pressed, seeing his silence.

Percival stopped fidgeting with his sleeves, hands in his pockets, his tailored suit accentuating his lean figure. He spoke slowly, "I'll attend the engagement party."

He paused, then added with a hint of a slow drawl, "I hope you can handle the consequences."

With that, he left the lounge.

As Wendy watched Percival's retreating figure, an inexplicable panic settled in her heart.

The others did not think much of it, simply impressed by Wendy's power to make Percival concede.

Hayden exhaled in relief. "Mom, that was... pretty cutthroat."

Defaming his daughter and a twenty-year-old girl was something he could never do.

Wendy scoffed, unconcerned. "What does it matter? Once Percival and Gillian are engaged, the Ashford family will be locked into a partnership with us. And Vivienne will be too ashamed to stay once she sees her fiancé engaged to another. Without Percival, what is she worth? She'll be at my mercy!"

She would never forgive Vivienne for making her wheelchair-bound for life!

Teresa muttered under her breath, "Gillian knew Percival was engaged and still chased after him. Wouldn’t it be easier to just pair Yannick with Gillian?"