The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

“Country bumpkin?”

Vivienne arched an eyebrow, an expression that hadn’t crossed her face in quite some time.

She surveyed Ramona with a critical eye, noting the girl couldn’t be more than twenty. With her doll-like features, it was no wonder she had become an overnight sensation.

It wasn’t just the push from her handlers behind the scenes; that pretty face was surely a factor.

Withdrawing her gaze, Vivienne’s clear eyes shifted to Dorian. “Dorian, what’s going on? Didn’t we agree that Kala was to be the face of the new perfume line?”

She paused, noting Dorian’s evasive look.

She asked, “You’re in trouble, why didn’t you talk to me?”

“I will explain everything later, Vivienne,” Dorian replied, his face showing distress. “Ms. Grimshaw, this is my daughter. Please be respectful.”

After he spoke, he turned to face Ramona with a stern expression.

Something was off.

Vivienne tugged at Percival’s sleeve, and without a word, he understood. He gestured to Thomas, indicating he should lean in closer.

Ramona, meanwhile, was visibly irked by Percival’s blatant disregard for her, his attention solely on Vivienne.

Her voice dripped with jealousy, “Percival, darling, look at them! I wouldn’t have taken this ad gig if it wasn’t for your sake. Now, they’re all ganging up on me.”

Her whiny voice grated on Vivienne’s nerves.

Vivienne’s elegant eyebrows knitted together as she scoffed, “Ms. Grimshaw, are you supposed to be some kind of mother hen? Clucking away like you’re laying eggs at the Hawthorn family talent show.”

flared, and she pointed at Vivienne. “You, you country bumpkin! What right do you have to

shrill voice drew the attention of the entire banquet hall to the unfolding scene between

among themselves, their expressions

calling Ms.

times. Ms. Hawthorn is known as the perfume maestro Q, not to mention a renowned fashion designer.

called a country bumpkin, what does that make

chatter didn’t escape the group, and Anna chimed in with a smirk, “All this talk of country bumpkins. One would think Ms. Grimshaw was some

“You, I—”

Her face flushed with a mix of rage and

would have thought that this woman, once so easily bullied in Havenwood, held so many

teeth in frustration as she said, “You just wait! I won’t

…

in a dimly lit hospital room, Willa had just finished bathing Karen and was carrying the basin

you could slice it, making it impossible to discern if anyone was

the bathroom

open the bathroom door to find nothing but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed

stepped in, making sure Karen was the only other person there before advancing with a syringe aimed

Willa, with lightning-fast reflexes,

…

the minor disturbance did little to

stuck close to Vivienne, casting glances around the room. “Strange, where did Ramona go?

with a light-hearted tone,

demeanor was cool and

explained, “No, no. I wish she’d leave faster. But you don’t understand, Vivienne. Ramona is

Ramona recently, Kala shivered. “The way she acted just now, she’s clearly set