The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 126

Cloudcrest High School auditorium.

Today was the scheduled day for Vivienne and Elijah’s fragrance blending competition. News about Vivienne, Percival’s fiancée, challenging the renowned Perfume Prince, Elijah, had

spread across the internet since his talk at Cloudcrest High.

Guests had flocked to the school, many drawn by the prospect of witnessing this unique

competition.

“Ms. Hawthorn.”

Vivienne had just arrived at the auditorium when she was met with a face full of malicious glee.

“And you are?” Vivienne asked, her brow knitting slightly. She couldn’t quite place the heavily made-up woman in front of her.

Stella forced a smile. “We met at Percival’s place.”

“Oh.” Vivienne remembered now, but dismissed the woman as insignificant. She was just about to step into the auditorium when Stella stopped her.

Stella’s face contorted for a moment, but she quickly regained her smugness. “Ms. Hawthorn, have you seen Cecilia? She invited me to accompany her today.”

She covered her mouth with her hand, feigning concern. “You really mustn’t lose too badly today. Cecilia doesn’t like you much as it is, and if you embarrass the Ellington family…”

“Vivienne!”

Stella was cut off as Cecilia spotted Vivienne from afar and hurried over.

She would have run if not for the need to maintain her ladylike demeanor. So she quickened her pace instead.

Stella’s shock, Cecilia briskly approached, took Vivienne’s hand, and warmly greeted her. “You

delayed

Percival in greeting and then turned her attention back to Vivienne. “May I come closer to the stage to watch your

eyes. He knew that she loved antique perfumes, but he

she had been pestering Vivienne every day, asking her to display her mother Evelyn’s collection at a small

Chapter 126

continued towards the auditorium,

humiliation as she remembered her earlier boast that

disliked Vivienne

Ellington!” She called out, unwilling to

at her with a frown on her

pale, then red out of

problem? Cecilia asked but didn’t dwell on

even glance at Stella from the corner

accompanied Vivienne into the auditorium, greeting many familiar

some genuine perfume enthusiasts, some Elijah’s fans, and a few drawn by the allure

Many believed that if it weren’t for her engagement to Percival, Elijah wouldn’t have

only people supporting Vivienne were Percival, Cecilia, and the students

competition being held during school hours, Class Eighteen was granted permission to attend and

“Go, Ms. Vivienne!”

stage under Elijah’s disdainful gaze, cheers emerged

crowd.

see Logan, Charlotte, Faye, and Oberon, all from Class Eighteen, waving at her enthusiastically from the front

sat a grim-looking Arabella, Elijah’s newly appointed apprentice. Arabella had been granted

hostile gaze met Vivienne’s, and she mouthed,

become the center of attention. Many students sought to please her in hopes of getting close

up her past misdeeds, as those trying

all in

servants.

past indiscretions still left a bitter taste in

Chapter 126

that embarrassing scene of her kneeling before Vivienne and how she ended up in

were definitely different now. This only fueled her

casually withdrew her gaze and walked