The Million-Dollar Heart

"Country bumpkin?"

Vivienne arched an eyebrow, an expression that hadn't crossed her face in quite some time.

She surveyed Ramona with a critical eye, noting the girl couldn't be more than twenty. With her doll-like features, it was no wonder she had become an overnight sensation.

It wasn't just the push from her handlers behind the scenes; that pretty face was surely a factor.

Withdrawing her gaze, Vivienne's clear eyes shifted to Dorian. "Dorian, what's going on? Didn't we agree that Kala was to be the face of the new perfume line?"

She paused, noting Dorian's evasive look.

She asked, "You're in trouble, why didn't you talk to me?"

"I will explain everything later, Vivienne," Dorian replied, his face showing distress. "Ms. Grimshaw, this is my daughter. Please be respectful."

After he spoke, he turned to face Ramona with a stern expression.

Something was off.

Vivienne tugged at Percival's sleeve, and without a word, he understood. He gestured to Thomas, indicating he should lean in closer.

Ramona, meanwhile, was visibly irked by Percival's blatant disregard for her, his attention solely on Vivienne.

Her voice dripped with jealousy, "Percival, darling, look at them! I wouldn't have taken this ad gig if it wasn't for your sake. Now, they're all ganging up on me."

Her whiny voice grated on Vivienne's nerves.

as she scoffed, "Ms. Grimshaw, are you supposed to be some

Vivienne. "You, you country bumpkin! What right

attention of the entire banquet

among themselves, their

Who's calling Ms. Hawthorn a

times. Ms. Hawthorn is known as the perfume maestro Q, not to mention

Hawthorn is being called a

Anna chimed in with a smirk, "All this talk of country bumpkins. One would think

for the restrictions of the setting, Ramona would have slapped Vivienne then and there. Her face flushed with a mix of rage and mortification; she regretted not studying Vivienne's background more

have thought that this woman, once so easily bullied in Havenwood, held so many

she said, "You just wait! I won't let you

just finished bathing Karen and was carrying the basin to the

slice it, making it impossible to discern

in the bathroom flickered twice, then went

but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed the rope that someone had used

the hospital room door cracked open, letting in a sliver of light. A man cautiously stepped in, making sure

and Willa, with lightning-fast reflexes,

at the party, the minor disturbance did little to dampen

around the room. "Strange, where did Ramona go? She wouldn't just leave

her head with a light-hearted tone, "Why? Were you hoping she'd

joking, her demeanor was cool and

wish she'd leave faster. But you don't understand, Vivienne. Ramona is not