The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The moment Vivienne’s words cut through the air, a wave of whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

“Oh, Vivienne’s really pushing it with Mr. Ellington’s favoritism.”

“What can you do? She’s pretty, and that goes a long way.”

“What goes around comes around. She’ll get hers eventually.”

The murmurs of discontent piled up as Fiona’s gaze darkened.

Vivienne just chuckled and said calmly, “Fine! For Richard’s sake, why don’t you just apologize?”

“Why should my daughter apologize? You were the one who smeared her design first. You’re just a country bumpkin. Do you think marrying into the Ellingtons will change that?”

Heloise could not hold back any longer. Her son had just been rushed to the hospital, his condition unknown, and now her daughter was being humiliated, too? They were shown zero respect!

Fiona remained silent. Even if Richard and Percival were on Vivienne’s side, they could not silence the court of public opinion.

The tide of sentiment was turning in her favor.

Vivienne glanced disdainfully at Heloise. “What? Your daughter’s design can’t stand criticism? Heloise, who do you think you are to say my mother should wear flawed jewels?”

Heloise was about to retort when Vivienne cut her off coldly. “Or do you think I can’t provide my mother with better jewelry than this?”

“You don’t understand anything! Master Jessica personally endorsed my daughter!” Heloise blurted out in her defense, invoking the renowned name.

Fiona’s expression darkened, but she said nothing in return.

The words were out. What good would contradicting them do now?

Unexpectedly, Richard said, “I haven’t heard about Fiona being endorsed by Master Jessica. Has anyone here actually seen Master Jessica?”

Fiona’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Her grandfather had publicly called her out, leaving her humiliated.

She had to face the music, explaining, “Grandpa, it wasn’t a big deal, so I never mentioned it to you. I met with Master Jessica recently, and this jewelry set was designed under her guidance.”

The crowd gasped.

that Master

called ‘Dazzling Stars’ that took the world

billion dollars to a mysterious buyer, it had never

on, Master Jessica became a

expected Fiona to meet Master Jessica

suddenly elevated to divine

furrowed. Fiona was

single reference to Master Jessica, she had set the standard for her

original prototype jewelry. All

their surprise, she took a silver needle and disassembled

Fiona yelled,

keep Fiona back, “What’s the rush? It’s just a set of jewelry. If it gets damaged,

Fiona clenched her teeth.

she was no match for

than half a minute, Vivienne stopped and

inspection, it was slightly different

Wait, she removed two diamonds and

on it, but I like it

bit cluttered and dull, but after

was exactly what

How could this be?

crowd said, “It has Master

exclaimed again, “Yes, the last time I was

the same wow factor as ‘Dazzling Stars,’ mainly because the original design wasn’t as impressive. If it were redesigned, it would be so

piece touched by Master Jessica looks like. It’s a

looked at Vivienne

Was she hearing things?

that she

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible.

could not possibly be Master Jessica. That was

also picked up on the hint from Vivienne’s

really Master

could Master Jessica be a young woman? Besides, isn’t Vivienne

was so multifaceted it

person