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.

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

pointed at Vivienne. "You, you country bumpkin!

the attention of the entire banquet hall

guests murmured among themselves, their expressions

here? Who's calling Ms. Hawthorn a

times. Ms. Hawthorn is known as the perfume maestro Q, not to mention a renowned fashion designer.

someone as accomplished as Ms. Hawthorn is being called a country

chimed in with a smirk, "All this talk of country bumpkins. One would think Ms. Grimshaw was some kind of high-born lady." "You,

would have slapped Vivienne then and there. Her

woman, once so easily bullied in Havenwood, held so many prestigious

her teeth in frustration as she said, "You just

in a dimly lit hospital room, Willa had just finished bathing Karen and was carrying

slice it, making it impossible to discern if anyone

the lights in the bathroom flickered twice,

eyes sharp, kicked open the bathroom door to find nothing but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed

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

flooded with light, and Willa, with

at the party, the minor disturbance did

glances around the room. "Strange, where did

light-hearted tone,

joking, her demeanor was cool and

she'd leave faster. But you