Chapter 176


    Vivienne shot Helen a half-smile that brought back vivid memories of her recent stage fright. The


    memory was so powerful that it stole the words right out of Helen''s mouth.


    "Sis," Arabe said, looking at Vivienne with pleading eyes. "I know I''ve never been a real sister to you,


    but all I want is to hear you y the piano once. Is that too much to ask?"


    "You..." Vivienne’s demeanor turned icy, "aren''t worthy."


    She was so harsh that they drew furrowed brows from the surrounding crowd, particrly from the


    Hawthorn n. Aside from Judith, Scott, and Ashley, everyone seemed irate at Vivienne''s cold


    treatment of Arabe.


    After all, Arabe was now the heiress of the Brooks family. Regardless of past quarrels, Vivienne''s


    public humiliation of her seemed uncalled for.


    "Vivienne, if you can''t y, just admit it. There’s no need to put on a show." A brash male voice echoed


    from the crowd.


    Percival''s brow furrowed as he turned to face the source of the disruption. It was Paul, whose face was


    begging to be punched.


    Thest beating hadn''t been enough. Richard had specifically called him back to Rivenwood to keep


    him away from Arabe, and yet here he was.


    "Arabe." Paul stepped forward, presenting her with a gift. "I hope you like it."


    Arabe opened the small box to reveal a one-carat diamond ne. On any other day, such a gift


    would have thrilled her. But in the presence of Vivienne''s Ophelia''s Heart, it seemed less impressive.


    "I love it." She said. Her voice was hollow, but her face was beaming as she put on the ne. She


    then turned to Vivienne with a look of disappointment. "Sis, won''t you really give me this gift?"


    The more Vivienne refused to perform, the more Arabe grew certain that she couldn''t y. This


    made her all the more determined to force Vivienne on stage, make her embarrass herself, and


    highlight her own talents.


    "Ha!" Paul scoffed. "She''s just a country bumpkin. What would she know about ying the piano?


    Arabe, you''re wasting your time."


    Before, Paul might have found some agreement among the crowd. However, after the recent runway


    incident and the revtion of Vivienne''s identity as the mysterious designer Charles, no one dared


    underestimate her.


    Paul, newly arrived, was still arrogantly belittling Vivienne. "No matter how much a turkey struts, it''ll


    never be a peacock. Arabe, she''s no match for you. Your piano ying has won awards. Why don''t


    you go up and give us a real show?"


    This was just what Arabe had been waiting for. She moved towards the stage, turning to Vivienne to


    say, "Sis, I know you''re nervous. Let me go first and warm up the audience. You can follow me."


    Vivienne watched as Arabe decided everything on her own. Her face was a mask of indifference.


    "Why are you warming up for her?" Paulughed. "Does she deserve it?"


    Percival''s eyes narrowed. He was ready to intervene.


    "Paul!" Cecilia steered her daughter, Isolde, through the crowd towards him. Her eyes looked cold and


    frightening.


    Paul jumped. "Auntie."


    "Apologize to Vivienne." Cecilia demanded, "Don''t make me tell your mother how you''re embarrassing


    yourself."


    To Cecilia, Vivienne was already part of the family, and she wouldn''t tolerate anyone insulting her.


    "How am I embarrassing myself?" Paul protested, "Why is everyone siding with this useless woman?


    My dad, and now you?!"


    "Vivienne is my daughter-inw. Should I side with a stranger like you instead?" Cecilia''s tone was ice-


    cold.


    "Exactly! You have terrible taste!" Isolde chimed in while pointing at Arabe. "That woman took credit


    for my recovery and swindled our family!"


    The crowd''s attention turned to Arabe, who looked utterly mortified.


    "That... that was a misunderstanding!" Paul defended Arabe, who had previously duped his family.


    "Will you apologize to Vivienne or not?" Cecilia was done arguing with him.


    "I didn''t say anything wrong! She''s just a hick! She doesn''t deserve to bepared to Arabe!" Paul''s


    voice grew louder.


    Percival caught Thomas'' eye from across the room.


    "Mr. Ellington," Thomas interrupted Paul, "you''ve got something on your chin."


    Paul reached to wipe his chin, but Thomas was quicker. With a sharp crack, Paul''s jaw was dislocated.


    "Ow...uh...uh..." Paul''s eyes teared up from the pain as he clutched his dislocated jaw, pointing at


    Percival and Thomas while making unintelligible sounds.


    "Get cousin Paul to the hospital." Percival ordered coldly.


    "Right away." Thomas responded instantly and dragged Paul out of the room.


    Paul had barely been at the party for ten minutes, and Arabe hadn''t even lifted the lid of the piano yet


    when he was hastily escorted out.


    The onlookers looked shocked. Was this some sort of service that included injuring people?


    Percival was ruthless, even toward his own family.


    However, their shock quickly subsided when they saw Percival''s icy demeanor. They all backed off.


    Who would dare mess with such a dangerous man?


    Arabe, sitting at the piano on the stage, had a slightly darkened expression. Why were the men


    surrounding her either disgusting like Elijah or useless like Paul? They couldn''tpare to Percival at


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    all.


    Her gaze greedilynded on Percival''s face through the crowd. She then lifted the piano lid and shed


    a confident smile as her fingers began to dance on the keys.


    The clear piano music flowed out, echoing throughout the entire banquet hall.


    Although her performance couldn''t match Debra''s earlier one, it was indeed worthy of Arabe''s


    reputation as a talented woman.


    Vivienne, standing in the crowd, had a furrowed brow.


    Percival instantly asked, "Why the sudden sour face?"


    Vivienne''s gaze fell coldly on Arabe. "The way she just looked at you… I don''t like it!"