The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 114

Suddenly, the auditorium was in an uproar.

"Why the hell did you take her as your student?"

"How on earth is she worthy enough to be your student?"

He gave a slight smile and picked up the microphone, sincerely addressing the puzzled looks from the crowd.

"I know it's hard for you guys to wrap your heads around this. I had my doubts too, but perfume blending not only needs talent but a keen sense of smell too. And Arabella is the most gifted person I've met in this respect.

I couldn't bear to waste her talent, and I don't want to discredit her just because she screwed up when she was young and dumb. Think about it. Who hasn't screwed up when they were young? When I was thirteen, I skipped school to play video games, got chased, and was smacked by my parents."

At this point, laughter erupted from the crowd. His easygoing humor led everyone to accept Arabella's past deeds.

Nobody's perfect. Who could say that they've never messed up?

They were all still young, weren't they?

As long as it was not something terribly wrong, they should be forgiven and get a second chance.

The shift in the students' attitudes made Elijah satisfied. He continued, "So, I've decided to give Arabella a chance. I'll properly teach and supervise her. If she screws up again, I'll personally kick her out of the perfume world."

A chilly smile appeared on Vivienne's face. So, this was Elijah's plan.

It was indeed perfect. He first got someone else to take the fall for Arabella, then covered up Arabella's flaws with his little speech about the stupidity of youth and made her his student. With the halo of being Elijah's student, even if she did get kicked out by Dr. William, Arabella could still continue being the beauty of Havenwood.

"I'm deeply ashamed of what I've done." Arabella took the microphone after Elijah gave her a signal. "I know my actions have tarnished the reputation of Cloudcrest High School. I'm here to formally apologize to everyone."

She bowed deeply to the crowd and sincerely apologized. When she straightened up, she looked at Vivienne. "Vivienne, I know I owe you an apology most of all. I'm sorry, I was wrong. I hope you can accept my apology."

After saying that, she bowed deeply to Vivienne, masking the coldness and hatred in her eyes.

"What if I don't accept?" Vivienne's lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile.

Arabella, still bending over, smiled slightly. She knew Vivienne would say that.

When she straightened up, her face immediately turned pitiful. "I really know I was wrong. Everything I did was because you're so great that I was jealous and lost myself. But we're family. Can't you forgive me?"

She looked incredibly beautiful, and she had lost a lot of weight after being in custody, so she looked very frail on stage.

After hearing Elijah's "youthful ignorance" excuse, a small portion of students immediately felt sympathy for this beautiful girl.

Perhaps Elijah had touched the dark side of these young people's hearts. They also had various human weaknesses, so when they put themselves in Arabella's shoes, they naturally hoped that others could easily forgive them for their mistakes.

So some people started whispering about Vivienne.

"Yeah, they're family. It's not a big deal. Arabella has apologized, so why keep going after her?"

"Vivienne, as Arabella's sister, should be more forgiving. It's okay for Arabella to make a mistake once, as long as she doesn't do it again."

Vivienne just smiled as she looked at Arabella, not saying a word.

"Oh, moral kidnapping?" Percival leaned back in his chair while casually adjusting his clothes. He appeared indifferent, but his tone was cold. After hearing this, most of the sensible students started to mock Arabella.

After all, the video of Arabella threatening Vivienne with a knife in the hospital to forgive her was still circulating online.

Moreover, Arabella had cried for sympathy at Cloudcrest High School many times before, and they were fed up with it.

Someone even shouted at Arabella on stage. "Arabella, why didn't you kneel this time? Is it because you don't have a knife? Do you need to go down and get ready, then come back and do it again?" Arabella's face twisted for a moment, but she quickly covered it up. Ignoring the ridicule from the crowd, she looked at Vivienne seriously and said, "I really am apologizing to you. What can I do for you to forgive me?"

She looked at Elijah timidly. "If... If you could forgive me, I'm willing to give up the opportunity to become Master Elijah's student to you."

The auditorium was suddenly in an uproar. Everyone thought Arabella had gone crazy. What a rare opportunity it was to be a student of the Perfume Prince Elijah, and she was giving it up?

The Hawthorn Group had made a big splash in Havenwood because of its perfume. Although the Hawthorn Group was now bankrupt, with Elijah's support, it would definitely not be hard to rise again with new funding.

Arabella still had the chance to become the beloved daughter of the Hawthorn family again.

But if Vivienne became Elijah's student, Vivienne definitely wouldn't help the Hawthorn Group because the person who caused the Hawthorn Group's bankruptcy was her fiancé.

At this moment, they immediately felt that Arabella was really trying to apologize to Vivienne.

"Arabella." Elijah's face became serious as he took a couple of steps towards her. "I chose you because you have talent. You can decide not to be my student, but I'd never take your sister under my wing." With a sneer, he glanced at Vivienne in the crowd. "Not just anyone can become my student."

Arabella was instantly touched.

After Elijah finished, a chill radiated from Percival, making everyone around him shiver.

His eyes narrowed as a cold glare flashed in them. Just as he was about to speak, Vivienne stopped him, gently squeezing his hand. The subtle warmth of her fingers instantly soothed his anger.

He turned to look at her profile. She was sitting steady and was just smiling as she watched the drama unfold on stage.

Elijah was looking at her too. He wanted to see anger, humiliation, and hatred in her eyes. But all he saw was a faint mocking smile, as if the one being humiliated wasn't her but him.

Elijah was provoked by her gaze, and anger burned in his heart. He sneered. "But, Ms. Vivienne, even though you lack talent and aren't fit to be my student, if you're willing to forgive Arabella, I don't mind letting you be a gofer."

Arabella was thrilled inside. This was exactly what she wanted. Now it was her turn to make Vivienne feel the same humiliation.

And this was just the first step in defeating Vivienne. She would keep pushing Vivienne down. Every humiliation she had suffered, Vivienne would have to endure too.

"You want to be my teacher? You think you're qualified?" Vivienne sneered in response.