The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the buzzing world of the entertainment industry, rumors had long swirled that Ramona’s meteoric rise to stardom wasn’t without the help of some shady dealings. But Kala, with her own history as a fan favorite, never bought into the gossip. She knew all too well how vicious whispers could trail a successful woman.

However, when she overheard Ramona trash-talking Vivienne, the scion of a respected entertainment dynasty, her blood boiled. Kala’s patience snapped as Ramona’s sneering remarks about the Brooks family hit too close to home. Before she knew it, a sharp retort lashed out from her lips.

Ramona’s face cycled through a spectrum of anger, embarrassment, and indignation.

Kala, her own temper flaring, nearly apologized, but the words froze on her tongue as she stared into Ramona’s twisted expression of fury.

“Oh, you’ve really done it now, Kala!” Ramona seethed, her delicate features contorting.

No wonder Kala and Vivienne were buddies—birds of a feather flock together!

“You want to slander me? You’re going to pay for that!” Ramona yelled inside when her hand shot out, grabbing Kala’s wrist and attempting to hurl her down the trailer steps.

“Ramona!” The urgency in her agent’s voice was clear as he raced to intervene.

With the grace of an actress, Ramona turned on the waterworks for the gathering crowd. “Ms. Brooks, I know you resent me for snagging that endorsement from you, but we all have to play the game in this industry. How could you attack me like this?”

Kala was incredulous at the audacity of Ramona’s performance, almost impressed despite herself.

The emotions in her eyes flickered as she stared at Ramona.

The shooting had just ended, and several staff were walking around the set, ready to leave. Hearing the commotion and realizing it was a clash between two popular actresses, a crowd quickly formed with onlookers recording the whole thing.

helped her up, and she limped onto him as if her

in her eyes, Jackson immediately said righteously, “Ms. Brooks, Ramona has been giving you the utmost respect because you’re a senior in this industry; that’s why she prefers to avoid conflicts with you even if it means she has to give up things in the process! And how do you repay her? Not only did you take Ms. Vivienne’s side in oppressing us during the banquet, but

livestreaming the situation, Jackson added, “But this isn’t over! Ms. Brooks, we’ll see you in court for

suddenly cut in with a gentle and soft tone, “No, Jackson. Don’t say that. Ms. Brooks didn’t mean it. It was my fault for stepping up and not expecting the Hawthorn family to actually hire me for this endorsement. Ms. Brooks, don’t you worry, I’ll call Mr.

The onlookers started murmuring.

I actually believed Kala

granddaughter of a murderer be? She’s showing her

until the last moment. How can Kala

Hawthorn Group, I’ll never buy their perfumes again! Who knows what ingredients

Xavier, frowned, his sharp gaze scanning past Ramona’s ankle,

could a girl born

to keep her eyes open. She would

was to ruin her reputation. It was no wonder Ramona kept

The public thought the Brooks family’s demise was because of

sound

very familiar with my family, so I’m sure you know that Vivienne is my cousin. You say you snatched my

Grimshaw, do you think you’ve charmed her

it dawned on the crowd

right, I’ve forgotten about that. I think I’ve