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 kind of mother hen? Clucking away like you're laying eggs at the Hawthorn family talent

flared, and she pointed at Vivienne. "You, you country

banquet hall to the unfolding scene between Vivienne, Dorian,

murmured among

here? Who's calling Ms.

known as the perfume maestro Q, not to mention a

is being called a country bumpkin, what does

talk of country bumpkins. One would think Ms.

restrictions of the setting, Ramona would have slapped Vivienne then and there. Her face flushed with a mix of rage and mortification; she

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

clenched her teeth in frustration as she said, "You just wait! I won't let you get away with

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

was so thick you could slice it, making it impossible to discern if anyone was

bathroom flickered

darkness. Without

open, letting in a sliver of light. A man cautiously stepped in, making sure Karen was the only other person there before advancing

make contact, the room flooded with light, and Willa, with lightning-fast reflexes, threw a

the party, the minor disturbance did

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

a light-hearted

her demeanor was

mistaking Vivienne's lightheartedness for irritation, hurriedly explained, "No, no. I wish she'd leave faster. But you