The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 243

Timothy and Cheryl were taken aback. Kala Brooks was their second-born, a blossoming actress who had already won an Academy Award despite her young age. Her popularity was skyrocketing, which meant her filming schedule was quite hectic. Even with the news of Scott replaceing his biological daughter, she couldn't replace the time to come home.

"Call Kala." Judith instructed with her voice strained.

Cheryl glanced at her husband. She was uncertain of Judith's intentions, but she still complied. She dialed Kala's number for a FaceTime call, assuming it would go unanswered due to the time difference and Kala's busy schedule abroad.

To her surprise, Kala answered immediately. "Mom, do you miss me?"

"Actually, your grandma misses you." Cheryl replied with a small smile and passed the phone to Judith.

"Kala." Judith greeted her with a now softer voice.

On the other end of the call, Kala was in the middle of a makeup touch-up. Half her false lashes had fallen off, and she was squinting as a makeup artist worked to fix them. "Grandma!" She greeted her back.

"Do you remember grandma's Peach Blossom bracelet?" Judith asked gently.

"Of course! The one Aunt Paula always fusses over, right?" Kala sounded a bit muffled since she was reapplying her lipstick.

Upon hearing this, Paula's expression flickered.

"Do you want it? I can give it to you." Judith offered with a faint smile.

Timothy and Cheryl exchanged worried glances, silently hoping Kala would decline. The last thing they wanted was to upset Judith over a bracelet.

"No thanks." Kala responded while making a face. "Why would I want to wear jade? It's so old-fashioned!"

Vivienne, who was wearing a jade bracelet, could only smile awkwardly.

"Then I will give it to your cousin Vivienne." Judith said, chuckling. She knew her eldest granddaughter was not one for flattery.

Kala shrugged indifferently. "Sure, go ahead."

Suddenly noticing Vivienne next to Judith, Kala leaned closer to the screen. "Wow, this cousin is so pretty! Much prettier than the last one. I like her at first sight. The last one, I just wanted to slap her face!" Everyone at the table exchanged awkward glances.

"Kala, you need to mind your manners." Her assistant warned her.

"Ugh, everyone always tells me what to do." Kala pouted.

Laughter erupted from Judith and her companions. Timothy and Cheryl shared a helpless look, knowing their daughter was notorious for her lack of a filter.

Just then, someone off-screen called for Kala. She leaned in to fill the screen. "My little cousin, I'll bring you a gift when I come home. What do you like? There are so many blonde, blue-eyed hunks here; do you want one? I can wrap a few up for you."

Cheryl quickly ended the call, blushing slightly. "Don't mind your cousin; she's always been a bit... eccentric." She was relieved that Percival wasn't present.

Vivienne's eyes lit up. What woman wouldn't want more hunks around? The more, the merrier!

'You wouldn't dare!' It was like Vivienne could hear Percival's voice in her head.

If he could flirt, why couldn't she replace some hunks?

But when did Percival ever flirt with someone else?

"Ashley, do you want this bracelet?" Judith asked, turning to Ashley.

The bracelet was rare, and Ashley would love to have it. However, she could only suppress her jealousy of Vivienne and politely decline. "The bracelet suits Vivienne best."

Judith nodded in satisfaction and turned to Paula. "Everyone is okay with me giving the bracelet to Vivienne. Do you have anything else to say?"

Paula scowled at the bracelet on Vivienne's wrist. Her appetite was gone. She threw her forks down in a huff, earning a stern reprimand from Judith.

Calista, who had been quietly observing, spoke up then, offering to take Paula to a private gemstone auction later in the afternoon.

Hearing this, Paula's mood lifted slightly, and she thanked Calista for her generosity.

With the tension diffused, the family continued their meal, each with their thoughts preoccupied with the events of the day.

Paula surveyed the younger generation of the Brooks family gathered around the table, and then her gaze finally settled on Vivienne. "I must say," she declared, "none of our kids can hold a candle to our little gem, Calista."

Vivienne continued eating her meal, her face an unreadable mask.

Calista and her mother sent smug glances her way, seemingly trying to gloat.

She found it quietly amusing.

What were they trying to show off to her?

Some kind of female rivalry?

She was not interested in the least.

Judith, smiling and nodding in agreement, was about to add a compliment or two about Calista when Paula's next comment made her shut her mouth.

Upon seeing Judith's expression fade, Mila silently cursed Paula for her tactlessness.

No matter how good someone else's child was, who would ever enjoy hearing their own child belittled?

"On the contrary." Mila quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. "I think Ronald is doing fantastic. He's a real whiz in the business world. Everyone sings his praises."

This seemed to alleviate Judith's mood slightly.

Each individual had their own talents.

Calista's gift was in medicine, an area where the younger generation of the Brooks family couldn't compete. But when it came to business, she could never outshine Ronald, and as for acting, Kala was undoubtedly the star.

Only someone as thoughtless as Paula would praise another's child while stepping on her own.