The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Aaron had barely taken a few steps when he caught sight of Vivienne on Percival’s arm, accompanied by her family and Richard, heading in the opposite direction.

Frustration bubbled within him. “Weren’t we supposed to split them up from the get-go? What now?”

Equally taken aback by his grandfather’s intervention, Kenneth sighed. “The first step of the plan is a bust. What else?”

The two young men exchanged a look of mutual disdain before parting ways.

From a distance, Vivienne was surprised to see Aaron and Kenneth together.

“Are those two playing nice again?” She asked.

Percival found Aaron’s presence irritating, but he could not show it too openly, given that Aaron was a friend of Vivienne’s. Thus, he said calmly, “Who knows? Let them be.”

Vivienne did not press any further.

Richard followed the rehearsed plan to the letter, entering with Vivienne at his side, ensuring she was the center of attention.

Vivienne, albeit reluctantly, complied. After all, the birthday boy calls the shots.

While they waited, Fiona approached them.

“Grandpa, Vivienne,” she said, holding a box that contained her latest jewelry design. “Grandpa, after your speech, I hope Vivienne can wear this set to showcase it. What do you think?”

Richard’s displeasure was evident, though he remained silent.

He intended for Vivienne to be seen purely as part of his entourage, to underscore his status, not as a billboard for the company.

Fiona hastily added, “I just think the jewels would look stunning on Vivienne. That’s all.”

to reprimand her. “Vivienne will simply accompany me for the entrance. You

his refusal, Fiona had no choice but to

hoped to leverage Vivienne’s identity as Master Charles, combining it with her jewelry concept to create a

eye-catching at first, but she knew

Richard said, leading her into

the shadows, his mocking gaze on Fiona. “How did that go? Got shot

icy as she warned, “Don’t you dare mess up my

supposed to be an excellent opportunity that could

Percival was onto something. She was confident that any move

was not on taking Percival down. Instead, she aimed to cement her position in her grandfather’s heart and lower Percival’s

you can win Grandpa’s favor for our family branch? You spend your days fiddling with those trinkets; it’s messed with your brain. If you keep at this pace,

‘lost cause,’ Jeffrey had not taken him seriously. What could a good-for-nothing do, after

focused on battling Paul,

had lost his standing in

by the art exhibition debacle, had to bite his

events within the Ellington family

a lost cause? It

Paul, to reap the benefits

to let that happen. If he did not act soon, the Ellington family would be Percival’s

drag Percival down. At the very least, he had to ensure Percival and Vivienne did not have

with malice before she turned away. “This is your last warning. If you ruin my plans, you’ll get it from

after her in disdain. “Pretentious much? The Ellington family

was out

the master of ceremonies delivered the opening remarks, inviting Richard

side, signaling the importance

Vivienne’s standing in

she was Percival’s fiancée, Richard’s cherished future

of crossing Vivienne would now have to weigh their stature against the might of the Ellington