The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In front of the Boyd Mansion.

As Wendy approached, she could not miss the sparkling ring on Vivienne’s finger. Under her breath, she cursed, “That little bitch!”

But her face was all smiles as she said, “Percival, darling, why stand out here? You’re at granny’s now; there’s no need to be so formal. Come on in!”

Percival scanned Wendy with a glance. If it weren’t for the mission he was concealing, he’d never again associate with the Boyds. It made his skin crawl.

“We haven’t sanitized and showered yet; it wouldn’t be proper to come in,” Percival replied coolly.

Wendy despised him all the more for it.

Percival was even more insufferable than his grandfather. Give him an inch, and he would not take it. Those Ellingtons, all with a stick up their backside! But for the sake of that elusive trade route, she had to play along.

With a thwack, Wendy brought her solid oak cane down on the butler’s shin, sending him tumbling to the ground in surprise.

“You ungrateful wretch, Percival’s family, isn’t he? I told you to have those riff-raff from who knows where to clean up, not Percival! You muddle-headed fool, you can kiss your bonus goodbye this month.”

Vivienne watched from the side, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

Riff-raff from nowhere?

Was that directed at her?

Surely, it was.

After scolding the butler, Wendy turned back to Percival with a forced smile and said, “Percival, the servants are clueless sometimes. Please, come inside. Don’t just stand out here.”

But Percival acted as if he had not heard Wendy. Instead, he turned to Vivienne.

Vivienne smiled lightly. “I heard it’s Boyd tradition to sanitize and shower before meeting the head of the house?”

“We

said, twisting the ring on her finger, and without changing shoes, she and Percival stepped onto the luxurious wool

have the staff clean it meticulously by hand. Now, with four dirty footprints stamped across it, she felt

resting them on the coffee table, her gaze casually turning to Wendy. “After you’ve

to smash it

nineteen-year-old girl had a presence that even Wendy,

silence, Wendy reluctantly headed to the prepared decontamination

dressed. Vivienne looked her over; she really had showered, and the

her heart aching at seeing her precious carpet, but she

she sat down and took a sip of water, saying, “Percival, your aunt and uncle are still out working.

the clock. It was already 7:30 PM. Still out working? The

into a sneer. After all these years, his

were out working, and they would eat

back. “Fine, we’ll wait for

nothing to him but his looks. Now, he

that little bitch beside him, not a

was silent, devoid

Boyds

children. The injured butler stopped them, “Master Theodore, please proceed to the decontamination room for a shower and change, as the head of the

Boyd Mansion for over forty years, Theodore had never heard of such

slapped the butler. “You mutt, who do you

wife Nancy, and their

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