The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Diana’s pout could have tugged the heartstrings of the stone statues in the garden. “I’m fine,” she insisted, but even her echo did not believe her.

Dracon followed Diana’s gaze and naturally landed on Vivienne.

“She’s been stealing your thunder again, hasn’t she? Don’t worry, I’ll get your back. No one messes with you on my watch,” Dracon said with a steely edge to his voice.

Before long, all the guests had arrived.

Yuri exchanged pleasantries with Natalia and Yasmine before moving on to the gift-giving part of the evening.

Isolde Ellington, on behalf of the Ellington family, presented two antique lockets. To the trained eye, these were not ordinary trinkets. They were antiques, auctioned for a hefty sum over a decade ago, once belonging to twin princesses from an age long past.

The crowd murmured their appreciation; the Ellingtons never did anything by halves.

Vivienne waited her turn, and once most had presented their gifts, she stepped forward. “Happy birthday, Natalia, Yasmine.”

Upon opening the gift box, the sight of two exquisite jade bracelets lit up the girls’ eyes.

Indeed, no matter the age, jewelry had a certain irresistible allure for women.

“Thank you, Vivienne,” the girls chimed in unison, their eyes sparkling with joy.

Vivienne ruffled their hair affectionately. Paired with the shoes Karen had given earlier, these bracelets would keep Natalia and Yasmine in good health for years to come.

The crowd was duly impressed. Such bracelets were not items one simply stumbled upon in a store.

Then, a snicker cut through the chatter. “I was curious what Ms. Hawthorn would bring. Just a pair of bracelets? How uninspired. I heard Jasper once gave you the Heart of Hope set, and as Master Jessica, plucking a bracelet from your inventory is no hassle. I thought you only played games with women, but it seems you don’t spare the children either.”

All eyes turned to Dracon, the only one who could deliver such a biting remark.

The faces of the Perez family fell, and the Ellingtons were not pleased either.

their daughter-in-law was something the Ellingtons

wonder what you have brought that might enlighten me, the

gift: an ancient wooden box. When opened, a prism of colors nearly blinded

scarcely seen in a hundred years,

wealth

had been five years ago when a mysterious collector briefly brought it into the light before

none

family was indeed in a league of its own, gifting such a treasure without

her from expressing her awe. “Show off,” she muttered under her breath, “My son will have

Vivienne. “Mr. Linklater, is this the

Dracon replied, bowing gentlemanly and delivering the Rainbow Opal to Natalia and Yasmine. “Do the young

though charmed by the opal, could not warm up to

is a special gift chosen just for

favor. “Diana mentioned you liked sparkly things, so here we

Linklater, may I take a closer look at your Rainbow Opal?” Percival

of disdain, Dracon watched Percival hug Vivienne like a precious gem. He had thought Percival was a hero worthy of respect, but apparently,

the box over.

and, to Dracon’s horror, began tossing it as one might juggle

you doing, Percival?”

smile was subtle as she said, “The Rainbow Opal can’t be shattered; it can only be

afraid, but isn’t Mr. Ellington’s casual treatment

without a word. To the shock of

were stunned

not supposed to be

with Maddox and

face cycled through shades of red and white, his composure as shattered like the opal that

her poise in the

the drama at

kids, and then it turns out to be a

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