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.

anything about jewelry recognized that Master Jessica

ago, she had designed a set called ‘Dazzling Stars’ that took the world

been auctioned off for 100 billion dollars to a mysterious buyer,

Master Jessica became

to meet Master

set was suddenly elevated to

was good

Master Jessica, she had set the standard for her

faintly and slowly approached the showcase displaying the original prototype jewelry. All eyes

their surprise, she took a silver needle

you doing?” Fiona yelled,

to keep Fiona back, “What’s the rush? It’s just a

Fiona clenched her teeth.

was no match for

half a minute, Vivienne stopped and turned

inspection, it was slightly

did she take it apart and put it back together… Wait, she removed two

can’t quite put my finger on it,

bit cluttered and dull, but

This was exactly what she had

How could this be?

from the crowd said, “It has Master

again, “Yes, the last time I was

because the original design wasn’t as impressive. If it were redesigned, it would be so

“This is what a piece touched by Master Jessica looks like. It’s a

looked at Vivienne

Was she hearing things?

that she was Master

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible.

be

picked up on the hint from Vivienne’s

you really Master

way. How could Master Jessica be a young woman? Besides, isn’t Vivienne known

identity was so

could one person be