The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne had a rendezvous with Kala at the film set that afternoon.

When Vivienne and Percival arrived, Kala had just wrapped up her scene.

The set was bustling, not a place for quiet talks.

Their agent herded them into a trailer to have sprivacy and then excused herself.

"Well, well, well, if it isn’t Kala, still shameless as ever, cozying up to Ms. Hawthorne," sneered a voice laced with sarcasm.

Before the tcould even begin their chat, Ramona’s mocking tones filled their ears.

The agent, blocked by Jackson at the foot of the trailer, watched as Ramona, swaying her hips, sauntered up the steps, her

bewitching eyes scanning Percival.

But the man's gaze remained unflinchingly on Vivienne.

Ramona'’s face twitched, "Ms. Hawthorne, | thought you were smarter. Keeping a ticking tbomb so close, providing her

resources, | guess Mr. Ellington isn't that important to you, is he?"

Vivienne, seated comfortably, didn’t bother to stand. She looked towards Kala, "Who is this? You've got such ill-mannered extras on

set?"

Before Kala could respond, Percival peeled an orange and handed it to Vivienne, "Showbiz is full of stars throwing their weight

around. No surprise there, seeing an ugly duckling like her."

Vivienne was known for her ability to infuriate people.

With Percival’s help, even if Kala didn’t like Ramona, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her.

Why did she have to cat this moment of all time? Against these two, even Scott would be no match.

Ramona? Mere chaff!

Sure enough, as soon as Percival finished his comment, Ramona’s face flushed a mix of red and purple, her eyes blazing. "I did it

for your own good, Ms. Hawthorne. You ungrateful... How can you talk tolike this? Don't you know Kala’s been pining after Mr.

Ellington?"

Vivienne, tossing a piece of trash into the bin, tilted her head. "So what?"

"You... aren't you afraid that Kala might steal Mr. Ellington away from you?"

Ramona was nearly choking with rage at Vivienne’s composure.

Why did her carefully laid plans always crumble in the face of this woman?

Wasn't she supposed to be jealous upon hearing her own cousin fancied her fiancé?

Far from jealous, Vivienne was curious. "Mr. Wolf, are you the type to be stolen away by someone else?"

Percival stood up and switched on the air conditioning to cool her down. "What nonsense are you spouting? Vivienne, don't you

know my heart by now?"

His eyes were deep with affection, tenderly gazing at Vivienne as if they could ooze sweetness.

Kala watched, rubbing her arms, thinking how cheesy Percival was in love - she had never known this side of him before.

Ramona was seething, unable to get the upper hand with them.

"You two!" she gasped, chest heaving.

Suddenly, her eyes glinted with an idea; her hand slipped from the door frame, and she feigned a fall backward.

"Not this trick again!" Kala blurted out before her mind could stop her.

As she instinctively moved to help, Vivienne grabbed her arm. "Let her act."

"Vivienne! You don't get it; the last tshe pulled this stunt, it gottrending. She's got more tricks up her sleeve than Mila

Clark!"

"It's fine. | love a good show."

Tossing Kala a grape, Vivienne leaned back on Percival, unperturbed.

Ramona tumbled from the trailer steps, rolling on the ground.

Jackson rushed over as before, with accusations ready, just as a crowd gathered, "What happened here? Ramona took a fall

again?"

Wasn't the crowd a tad too quick to arrive?

Ramona frowned, but given the buildup, she let the scheduled tears fall, "Ms. Hawthorne, | was just trying to help you. | don't

expect gratitude, but why would you push me? My foot's still healing, and I've got more scenes to shoot."

"Ms. Hawthorne is here too?"

"Who's that guy with her? So handsome!"

"That's Ms. Hawthorne's fiancé, the heir to the Ellington family, a big deal!"

"Ah, so what's with Ramona? Why's she saying she was helping Ms. Hawthorne?"

As murmurs of scandal spread, the previous altercation between Ramona and Kala seemed forgotten.

Ramona's face paled as she met Vivienne's amused gaze, a slow burn of resentment rising within.

"Ms. Hawthorne, | know my exposing Kala's crush on Mr. Ellington embarrassed you last time. But | had no choice. | didn't want to

see you deceived, so | had to do it. You might dislike me, and | get it, but why repay kindness with malice?"

With no other option, Ramona doubled down, recounting the previous incident.

The crowd wore expressions of dawning realization, their judgmental gazes now fixed on Vivienne, "That's too much! Is Ms.

Hawthorne really that sort of person?"

"Speople just love to feign ignorance. Maybe she knew about Mr. Ellington and Kala all along but stayed silent for her fiancée

status."

"So, was Ramona just trying to help, but it backfired? That's no reason to push someone, though."

The chatter grew louder.

Kala was frantic, attempting several times to stand and retort, but Vivienne pulled her back each time.

Ramona nestled into Jackson's embrace, her shoulders shaking, her sobs a mix of despair and sorrow, enough to move the stoniest

heart. With her face as soft and harmless as a baby bunny, she didn't even need to speak to pique everyone's curiosity and send

the atmosphere sky-high.

"Full already?" Percival noticed Vivienne patting her stomach and asked with a beaming smile, "Wantto grab you something

else?"

Vivienne shook her head as though the murmur of accusations around her didn't concern her at all, "No, still peckish."

She rubbed her belly. "Looks like this show's not worth watching on an empty stomach."

Starving while trying to enjoy the was simply masochistic.

She clapped her hands together, giving Percival's shoulder a pat, "Let's go."

The couple strolled out of the trailer with a leisurely grace. Vivienne's clear, indifferent gaze swept over Ramona. "Did you just say |

pushed you?"

Uncertain of Vivienne's intent, Ramona bit her lip and nodded, "What else could it be? If someone didn't push me, are you

suggesting | rolled off by myself?"

Vivienne's lips curved into a slight smile, "If that's the case, then this will be easy. Leopold!"

"Right here, Vivienne, got everything you need!"

Leopold popped up from nowhere, cradling a black gadget in his arms and clutching a probe that looked like a scanner.

Seeing that he was acquainted with Vivienne, the crowd parted to let him through.

Leopold quickened his step. "Vivienne, | had to pull sstrings to get this from the department. The latest fingerprint scanner -

what do you think? Whose prints are we checking?!"

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