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.

was something the

Percival, stepped forward. “I wonder what you have brought

scoffed and presented his gift: an ancient wooden box. When opened,

rare multicolored opal – Rainbow Opal! It was a gemstone scarcely seen in a hundred years, invaluable both as jewelry

purchase; wealth alone could not secure such a

years ago when a mysterious collector

none

was indeed in a league of its own, gifting such a treasure without a second thought, and two stones

but her disdain for Dracon kept her from expressing her awe. “Show off,” she muttered

around Vivienne. “Mr. Linklater, is this the

to Natalia and Yasmine is worth it,” Dracon replied, bowing gentlemanly and delivering

not warm up to

“This is a special gift chosen just for you two by Uncle Dracon. Say

you

Linklater, may I take a closer look at

a precious gem. He had thought Percival was a hero worthy of respect, but apparently, he was just another man orbiting around a

box over. “Please,

took the opal and, to Dracon’s horror, began tossing it as one might

you doing,

be shattered; it can only be cut with special tools.

but isn’t Mr. Ellington’s casual treatment of another’s gift

shock of everyone, the supposedly unbreakable opal

guests were stunned

not supposed to be

tension, starting with

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

Diana struggled to maintain her poise in the face of

drama at a Linklater

little kids,

wool over children’s eyes!Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay