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.

jewelry recognized that

called ‘Dazzling

had been auctioned off for 100 billion dollars to a mysterious buyer, it had never been seen

Master Jessica

Master Jessica and receive her

set was suddenly elevated to divine

brow furrowed. Fiona was good at seizing

Jessica, she had set the standard for her jewelry

slowly approached the showcase displaying the original prototype jewelry.

silver needle and disassembled the jewelry

Fiona yelled, stepping forward to stop

It’s just a set of jewelry. If it gets damaged, I’ll

Fiona clenched her teeth.

for

stopped and turned around. The set of

on closer inspection, it was slightly different

together… Wait, she removed two diamonds and rearranged them. It

can’t quite put my finger on

and dull, but after this tweak, it’s

stunned. This was exactly what she

How could this be?

a deep voice from the crowd

crowd exclaimed again, “Yes, the last time I

the same wow factor as ‘Dazzling Stars,’ mainly because the original design

what a piece touched by Master Jessica looks like. It’s a shame it’s another blemish on my

looked at Vivienne in

Was she hearing things?

Vivienne just imply that she

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible.

be Master Jessica. That

others also picked up on

you really

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

so multifaceted it

one person be