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

entire banquet hall to the unfolding scene between Vivienne,

among

going on here? Who’s calling Ms.

the perfume maestro Q,

being called a country bumpkin, what does that make

in with a smirk, “All this talk of country bumpkins. One would

“You, I—”

then and there. Her face flushed with a mix of rage

once so easily bullied in Havenwood,

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

…

lit hospital room, Willa had just finished bathing Karen and was

you could slice it, making it impossible to discern if

bathroom

kicked open the bathroom door to find nothing but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed the rope that someone had used

letting in a sliver of light. A man cautiously stepped in, making sure Karen was

could make contact, the room flooded with light, and Willa, with lightning-fast reflexes, threw a dagger that pinned the intruder’s head to

…

disturbance did little to dampen

where did Ramona go? She

turned her head with a light-hearted tone, “Why? Were

joking, her demeanor was cool

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

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