The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The cameras started rolling, and the reality show “Escape to the Wild” was underway.

The production team had scouted a variety of campgrounds, but it was up to the celebrity contestants

to fend for themselves when it came to food and drink. At 8:30 each evening, a live broadcast was

scheduled where fans could interact with the stars and vote for the least favorite. The one with the most

votes would end up playing butler for the next day, taking care of all the chores.

On the first day of shooting, the group worked together to set up tents and cook dinner. It just so

happened that Vivienne was not exactly an outdoorsy type.

Neither was Kala.

“Let me handle this, Granny. Why don’t you sit and chat with Bo… Vivienne and the others?” Stephen,

the only guy in the group, naturally took on more of the physical tasks.

Lucia and Lila also sat down, shamelessly buttering up Paloma Harris.

“Ma’am, your skin is just radiant.”

“Ma’am, being around you feels just like being with my mom. So comforting.”

The old lady was baffled. These two girls were not exactly known for their integrity, but they sure had

sweet tongues.

Paloma clicked her tongue. “Oh, honey, we come from a family of good looks.”

Vivienne could not help but burst into laughter.

Kala quickly tugged at her. “Vivienne, stop laughing. It’s not nice.”

Lucia and Lila did not dare confront Paloma, so they redirected her anger toward Vivienne. “You think

it’s funny? A murderer’s granddaughter, I’d hide my face if I were you.”

Kala hung her head in shame.

But Vivienne, legs crossed nonchalantly, eyed Lucia. “Heard that the murderer gene is hereditary. Want

me to give it a try tonight?”

Lucia shivered. “Are you trying to scare me? You dare say anything. Aren’t you afraid of biting your

tongue?”

“If you’re not scared, why should I be?” Vivienne retorted coolly.

Seeing her sister outmatched, Lila chimed in. “Let’s not stoop to arguing with fools. We do our part.

Justice shall prevail. Some people never change, and if it weren’t for family support, they’d be nothing.”

Vivienne nodded approvingly and then turned to Kala. “You hear that? We strive even though we come

from a wealthy background, while some, without a leg up from daddy, turn to sugar daddies. Can’t

discriminate.”

Lucia had recently been exposed for seeking a sugar daddy, and Vivienne’s insinuation hit a nerve.

“Dare to say that again, Vivienne, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

“Coincidence, I dare!” Vivienne’s lips curled into a sly smile. “You were caught in the Atherine Inn’s

presidential suite with a corporate bigwig by his wife. She stripped you and dragged you from the

penthouse to the lobby. It cost half a million to bury the photos, and you’re here to settle that debt.

Basically, he played you for free.”

Lucia froze. How did Vivienne know?

When Lila saw things were going south, she blocked the camera. “You little bitch, shut up!”

Vivienne’s gaze shifted. “Almost forgot about you… Using your status as Lucia’s sister, you embezzled

three million from her team. You rejected lucrative roles for her, costing Lucia a hit show. Oh, and

another thing, it was you who exposed your sister’s hotel room number for fear that people might find

out about your embezzling.”

Lila went pale. “I… I…”

“Wow, so it was you! I’ll start with your mouth!” In a rage, Lucia slapped Lila across the face.

Lila, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, engaged in a full-blown fight with Lucia.

Vivienne watched with satisfaction. There was nothing better than watching a dogfight.

Kala was stunned. “Vivienne, how do you know all this?”

These were secrets meant to die with a person.

Vivienne smiled mischievously, radiant and striking. “Gossip news, your favorite, right?”

Kala was speechless. She loved gossip, but this was no ordinary scandal.

During the live broadcast that evening, Paloma let slip the catfight between the Lucia sisters. In

response, Lucia hired some online trolls to target Vivienne and Kala’s broadcast with vitriol.

The trolls filled the chat with demands for Kala to leave showbiz. Vivienne, known for her sharp tongue,

went into full clap-back mode.

When one troll said: [A murderer’s granddaughter doesn’t belong in showbiz.] Vivienne shot back, “And

you do? Who’s asking for you?”

Another insulted them: [Devious and despicable sisters. Aren’t you afraid of karma? I hope you get

struck by lightning!]

Vivienne retorted, “I’m not afraid. The lightning strikes the idle first.”

Then, a lone comment in Kala’s defense appeared, swarmed by trolls.

[Kala’s grandmother was a murderer, but she’s not. Why are you guys all so harsh on her?]

Vivienne invited the defender to a private chat and, without a word, donated a lavish virtual gift worth

thousands of dollars.

The audience was stunned. Even the trolls started to change their tune.

[You think you can buy us? Don’t think you can bribe everyone!]

“I’m rich, so what? What can you do?”

[I… I think Kala didn’t do anything wrong. She’s a good actress. I’ve watched her every show.]

Vivienne instantly gifted this person as well.

The trolls slowly turned to fans.

Vivienne faced the camera, her voice cold. “Kala earned every role with her talent. The intelligent ones

know it. I don’t want to hear another word about her leaving showbiz.”

The chat exploded with support.

[Long live Vivienne!]

[Money might make me look bad, but I’m all ears for Vivienne. Oh, and I’m a huge fan!]

[I’ve always been Kala’s fan. Keep going!]

[Stay strong, Kala. And Vivienne, we love you!]

Moved to tears, Kala hugged Vivienne, weeping out of the camera’s view.

Some trolls persisted, insinuating the money was dirty.

But the tide had turned, and Vivienne had transformed the chat with her fierce loyalty and the power of

her money. They were on the side of the underdog, proclaiming their support for Kala and Vivienne, the

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The screen flickered, and a name glinting with an otherworldly glow captured everyone’s attention—

[SSVIP ‘Vivienne’s Knight in Shining Armor’ has entered the chat.]

Almost immediately, ‘Vivienne’s Knight in Shining Armor’ made their presence known with a message

that lit up the screen.

[Money is no object, Vivienne. Go ahead, treat yourself.]

Instantly, the digital equivalent of a hundred grand in virtual gifts exploded across the screen.

The chat was so flooded with activity that it nearly crashed!

With that single move, a tidal wave of viewers—millions strong—swarmed into the stream, all in awe of

the big shot.

Vivienne, on the other end, could only think…

“Mr. Wolf, why not just wire to my bank account? This hurts more than a Thanksgiving turkey burn!”

Then, ‘Vivienne’s Knight in Shining Armor’ dropped another bombshell: Kala had been cast as the lead

in the blockbuster project ‘Betrothed Understud,’ a role that was the stuff of legend.

Kala herself was gobsmacked. This project was the Holy Grail, helmed by one of the industry’s finest

directors, someone she had tried and failed to even get a meeting with.

“Vivienne, is this for real?”

Doubt laced Kala’s voice as she pinched her own cheek, half-expecting to wake from a dream.

Vivienne nodded. “It’s real. Now go out there and snag that Best Actress award.”

As if on cue, Vivienne’s phone buzzed with a new message.

[Vivienne, are you pleased?]