The Million-Dollar Heart

Ashley's outburst had left Vivienne speechless. Took her place?

Rolling up her sleeves with a dramatic flourish, Charlotte slapped Ashley's hand away and planted her hands on her hips, glaring down at her. "Who are you pointing fingers at, huh? Think you're some kind of big shot? I'm the one who's earned the right to speak on behalf of the whole school because I aced every single subject, not you!"

"You think you could've taken my spot without Vivienne's help? Dream on!" Ashley spat back, her pride bruised.

To Ashley's surprise, Charlotte did not retort. "You're right. Without Vivienne's support, I wouldn't have even gotten into the defense academy."

Then, Charlotte gave Ashley a piercing look, then asked Vivienne, "Vivienne, who is she to you?"

Vivienne gave Ashley a once-over. "She's my cousin on my aunt's side."

"I see." Charlotte caught sight of the bewildered Brooks family lingering in the background. She clapped her hands theatrically. "Well, I won't intrude on your little family dinner then. Be sure to hit me up when you're free, okay? I'll let Faye know, deal?"

"Sure." Vivienne nodded.

Griffin, who had been quietly observing, gently tugged Charlotte away, giving Vivienne a knowing wink as if she had much to say.

Arm in arm, they left, with Charlotte tossing over Griffin's shoulder, "You can't let a man walk all over you!"

Vivienne's lips curled into a smirk. So, Charlotte was the mastermind behind Griffin's antics towards Leopold. Tsk, tsk.

Her little protégé was in for a rough ride.

Ashley kept staring at Vivienne as if she was the villain of the century.

Vivienne just shot her a glance and turned to Melissa. "Aunt Melissa, about the dinner..."

"We'll continue," Melissa said, visibly annoyed with her daughter. "Ashley, you can leave if you're not eating. It's like all those years of raising you were for nothing. You're so unreasonable!" With that, Melissa ushered Vivienne back to the private dining room.

than willing to keep the peace for Vivienne's

reproachful look at Ashley before

messy hair. "Ashley, dear, Vivienne hasn't wronged you, you know. They've only just met, and your grudge is baseless. You blame her for our grandparents and uncle's misfortune,

you all the finest things in the world, and you'll have someone who adores you, sweetheart."

didn't chase after her; instead, he returned to the dining room to finish the meal

to watch the next

accepted with a

been a while since she had been to a race, and with Charlotte free for a few days, it was the perfect opportunity to invite her

showed up too, and Charlotte was dressed to impress in a chic racing outfit, her hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail,

snacks to set the mood!" Charlotte replied with

with a prime view of the start and finish line

distance, with

people

Ashley's attitude towards her didn't affect how

before slipping into his race car, Ashley putting on the helmet that Percival had given Carl only the day

but she was not above

Carl's car was positioned on the outer track in third place. At the drop of the flag, seven cars roared off the line amid a crescendo of engines and gasps from

the thrill of the

He grasped her hand,

cars-the engine sounded off. I'm not

expression darkened as