The Million-Dollar Heart

The moment Vivienne's words cut through the air, a wave of whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

"Oh, Vivienne's really pushing it with Mr. Ellington's favoritism."

"What can you do? She's pretty, and that goes a long way."

"What goes around comes around. She'll get hers eventually."

The murmurs of discontent piled up as Fiona's gaze darkened.

Vivienne just chuckled and said calmly, "Fine! For Richard's sake, why don't you just apologize?"

"Why should my daughter apologize? You were the one who smeared her design first. You're just a country bumpkin. Do you think marrying into the Ellingtons will change that?"

Heloise could not hold back any longer. Her son had just been rushed to the hospital, his condition unknown, and now her daughter was being humiliated, too? They were shown zero respect! Fiona remained silent. Even if Richard and Percival were on Vivienne's side, they could not silence the court of public opinion.

The tide of sentiment was turning in her favor.

Vivienne glanced disdainfully at Heloise. "What? Your daughter's design can't stand criticism? Heloise, who do you think you are to say my mother should wear flawed jewels?"

Heloise was about to retort when Vivienne cut her off coldly. "Or do you think I can't provide my mother with better jewelry than this?"

"You don't understand anything! Master Jessica personally endorsed my daughter!" Heloise blurted out in her defense, invoking the renowned name.

Fiona's expression darkened, but she said nothing in return.

The words were out. What good would contradicting them do now?

Unexpectedly, Richard said, "I haven't heard about Fiona being endorsed by Master Jessica. Has anyone here actually seen Master Jessica?"

Fiona's face flushed with embarrassment.

Her grandfather had publicly called her out, leaving her humiliated.

She had to face the music, explaining, "Grandpa, it wasn't a big deal, so I never mentioned it to you. I met with Master Jessica recently, and this jewelry set was designed under her guidance." The crowd gasped.

Anyone who knew anything about jewelry recognized that Master Jessica was the pinnacle of the craft.

ago, she had designed a set called 'Dazzling Stars' that took the world by

auctioned off for 100 billion dollars to a mysterious

then on, Master Jessica became a

Master Jessica and receive her

was suddenly elevated

furrowed. Fiona was good

a single reference to Master Jessica, she had set the standard for her

slowly approached the showcase displaying the original prototype jewelry.

took a silver

Fiona yelled,

keep Fiona back, "What's the rush? It's just a set

Fiona clenched her teeth.

match for Percival, she

half a minute, Vivienne stopped and

on closer inspection, it

apart and put it back together... Wait, she removed two diamonds and rearranged them. It looks more refined

put my finger on it, but I

cluttered and dull, but after this

was

How could this be?

deep voice from the crowd

last time I was this

Stars,' mainly because the original design wasn't as impressive. If it were redesigned, it would be so much better." Vivienne glared at Fiona, "This

at Vivienne in

Was she hearing things?

just imply that she

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible.

not possibly be

up on the hint from

you really

young woman? Besides, isn't Vivienne known as Master

so multifaceted it