The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 71

Gabriel didn’t even have a chance to explain himself before the other party hung up the phone.

He stared at his phone, looking completely dumbstruck. He then turned to look at a cold Vivienne,

speechless.

At that moment, the few staff members with Gabriel received phone calls too, their faces turning sour in

an instant.

One of them walked up to Vivienne and apologized. “We’re really sorry. We screwed up and accused

you of forgery without confirming the claims. Our boss just confirmed that your graduation certificate is

legit. We’re really sorry for the trouble we’ve caused.”

Vivienne just stared at them, not saying a word.

The staff members were on edge, fearing Vivienne would hold them accountable. They quickly tried to

explain, “Ms. Vivienne, we’re truly sorry. We had no idea Gabriel hadn’t double-checked your

information. Now, our boss has decided to fire him. We’ll also compensate you for the inconvenience

we’ve caused you. We hope you can forgive us.”

They really didn’t know Gabriel hadn’t double-checked Vivienne’s graduation certificate.

Before they came to the school, everyone was busy. Then Gabriel suddenly wanted them to investigate

a case of diploma forgery. Given Gabriel’s rank, they had to follow his lead.

Before leaving, they specifically asked Gabriel if he had checked in the system, and he said

that he had.

However, they didn’t know Gabriel hadn’t checked at all.

The staff members were furious at this point, wishing they could beat Gabriel up. They were furious at

Gabriel. Why did he have to get them into this?

Before Vivienne could reply, Mr. James walked over and snorted. “If apologies worked, what would we

need cops for? You’ve disrupted the school’s meeting, falsely accused my student without evidence,

and caused her a great deal of distress. We can’t accept your apology. Later, we’ll get our lawyers

involved.”

Mr. James glanced at Gabriel and said coldly, “This is a serious mistake, and you’re just firing him? I’ll

have my lawyer investigate thoroughly to see if he’s done anything else against the

rules.”

The staff members were in a pickle, but they knew it was pointless to try to defend themselves when

Vivienne and everyone were already so angry.

Besides, Gabriel started this. They would have to report back to their boss, so they left with

him.

After they left, Percival, sitting at the back, lightly tapped his wheelchair. “Thomas, take care

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12.06

Iright.” Thomas responded and pulled out his phone to make a call.

ivienne took her seat again, and the students and teachers began to whisper among

emselves.

What just happened? Why did those people just leave?”

overheard a bit. Apparently Ms. Vivienne’s graduation certificate is real.”

arlier, Gabriel and Vivienne were too far away for them to hear the conversation clearly.

s everyone was discussing, the principal picked up the microphone. ‘As you all know, I’ve ired a new

class advisor for Class Eighteen, Ms. Vivienne. She went to great lengths to ring in Mr. James’s team

to teach, but many people are unhappy with her, thinking she got

through connections.”

fter Lysander said this, he paused and, after a few moments, continued, “Today, I will show Ms.

Vivienne’s graduation certificate on the screen. Judge for yourself if she is qualified to

e your teacher.”

After Lysander finished, the dean put a photo of Vivienne’s graduation certificate on the

Screen.

Not many people knew Vivienne had a double doctorate, so everyone was even more surprised when

they saw her certificate.

At the same time, Lysander’s voice rang out again. “Ms. Vivienne took the college entrance test at

fourteen and was the top student nationwide. At sixteen, she earned a double doctorate. Do you think

such qualifications need to be obtained through connections?”

“Wow! Ms. Vivienne is that amazing? The top student in the country at fourteen and a double doctorate

at sixteen? She’s a genius!”

“Class Eighteen is so lucky! With such an excellent teacher, I guess their results in the college entrance

test this year will be outstanding, right?”

The most shocked of all were, of course, the students of Class Eighteen.

At first, they were tamed by Vivienne because she indeed had the qualities of a great teacher. Not only

that, but they were afraid of her too.

Later, Vivienne brought in Mr. James’ team. They only thought Vivienne had extensive connections,

since Vivienne didn’t teach them personally. They thought Lysander brought Vivienne in just to keep

them focused on their studies so Mr. James’ team could teach better.

But who could have thought that Vivienne’s qualifications were this high?

Wasn’t this a blessing for them?

With excellent teachers like Vivienne and Mr. James’s team, they seemed to see a glimmer

Chapter 71

of hope for their futures.

While everyone was discussing, Arabella, who was sitting in the front row, clenched her fingers so hard

that her nails dug into her flesh without her feeling it. Her face was pale, and she was biting her lip

while staring at the certificate on the screen. She thought she was hallucinating.

Coral next to her was the same. “How could this be? Vivienne really has PhDs? Arabella, hasn’t she

always been in the village? I thought she never left her home? How did she take

the exams?”

Arabella didn’t say a word. Her face was expressionless.

She couldn’t have imagined Vivienne’s qualifications were real.

Ever since Vivienne came back, her status had been threatened.

Her high and mighty status as the only daughter was gone. She had become nothing but a foster

daughter.

She thought she could find superiority in academia, but she got totally schooled by Vivienne.

Vivienne!

Why her?

How could a country bumpkin like her become the nation’s top student at 14?

And get double PhDs at 16?

How on earth could this happen? They were both daughters of the Hawthorn family, but she had to call

Vivienne her teacher?

No way!

Vivienne must have cheated!

She must have!

But without proof, she couldn’t expose Vivienne.

Arabella watched as the students and teachers around her admired Vivienne, causing her

vision to blur with frustration.

She couldn’t let Vivienne surpass her anymore. Who did she think she was?!

After discussing Vivienne’s academic achievements, Lysander continued the meeting.

The meeting lasted for more than two hours.

Because they were interrupted by those officials, it was already 12 o’clock at noon when it ended.

Vivienne and Percival returned to Tranquil Estates, with Thomas in the driver’s seat.

Vivienne was about to text Matthew when Percival asked, “What’s the name of the Hawthorn family’s

adopted daughter who came today? Gabriel, uh, sorry.”

Sorry?

He forgot somebody’s name this quickly?

Vivienne was dumbfounded.

Before Vivienne could answer, Percival waved his hand. “Her name’s not important. Gabriel is her

classmate’s uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Vivienne put her phone back in her pocket, looked at Percival, and said very

seriously, “Her name is Arabella, and her classmate is Coral Lockwood. Mr. Ellington, you’re being a

tad impolite.”

Percival glanced at her with a smirk on his lips. “They don’t deserve my politeness.”

“Fair point.”

“I’ll cause some trouble for the Lockwood family and get back at them for you.” Percival switched

topics.

“Thanks” Vivienne didn’t refuse.

She was planning on stirring up some trouble for the Lockwood family anyway.

Gabriel was Coral’s uncle, and she had texted Matthew to look into him as soon as he mentioned his

name.

First, they falsely accused her of theft, and now of forging documents?!

The Lockwood family must have thought life was too easy and wanted a taste of hardship.

She’d be happy to oblige.

But since Percival was willing to get revenge for her, she saved herself some trouble.