The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne squinted her eyes, recalling the day her mother took her own life. Several prominent families had been spotted around their residence at the time.

One of those was the Ashford family.

Back then, the Rivenwood Ashfords came up in her search. Having thoroughly investigated them after arriving in Rivenwood, she found nothing amiss.

But the Ashfords of Sea City were a different story; she had not looked into them yet.

She had checked out the Churchills and the Pendletons, who had also been present that day, and found nothing noteworthy.

Only the Ashfords…

A sly smile played on Vivienne’s lips.

After lying low for so long, they were finally showing themselves.

This was getting interesting.

Vivienne’s gaze returned to the present as she suddenly asked, “What about the Perez family? Any sightings of them?”

Thomas shook his head, “No, not that we’ve found. The Perezes are well-entrenched; their dealings are not so easily uncovered.”

She nodded in understanding. If the Perezes also had a research facility, it would make her work in Sea City all the more convenient.

Percival flipped through the dossiers Thomas had compiled, his eyes lingering on the biotech companies’ transactions. The Boyds seemed to have only recently connected with the Ashfords, and there was more to their business than met the eye.

“It seems we’ll be dealing with the Ashfords more closely,” Percival remarked, his brow furrowed with distaste.

Dealing with the Ashfords meant entanglements with Gillian, a thought he found repulsive.

The memory of having to lightly push Gillian away, even with a towel separating them, made him feel unclean.

He would need a long, thorough shower tonight to wash away the feeling.

Seeing Percival’s growing irritation, Thomas looked puzzled at Vivienne.

Blinking, he silently questioned, “Ma’am, what’s gotten into Percival? I didn’t upset him, did I?”

“It’s nothing. Just a

shut the folder and said, “Let’s find a

ready to do anything, even jump into a river,

meal, Percival received a call from

the way you treated Ms. Ashford is completely unacceptable. Do you have any idea how much trouble you could bring upon us? You’re being utterly thoughtless. Get back

up before Percival could

Percival’s expression darkened. “Thomas, take Vivienne home

interjected with a faint smile. “I’m the head of the Boyd family, after all. How can I not be

…

At the Boyd Mansion.

tears, lamenting

she and my brother could get to know each other, at the very least. But Vivienne must have done something; Gillian

Gillian is the granddaughter-in-law I’ve chosen; I’ll certainly stand by her. That

sat beside her. “Mom, Vivienne has the Boyd

serve me if she wants to be my granddaughter-in-law. If she insists on being the Boyd family head, she can

Wendy’s shoulders, her mind racing with schemes of

matter what, she had to improve Percival’s opinion of her to uncover the truth of Nathan’s feelings for Cecilia. If their love had waned, it was the perfect opportunity to get close to the Ellingtons

if their affection was still strong? Well, as long as Percival knew what kind of woman his mother was,

senior members of the Boyd

fingers were wrapped in bandages, still aching from

Mara to introduce Gillian to me, but no, now look what’s happened. If she’d introduced her to me, Grandma, you’d

to object, “You think you could woo Gillian? Have you looked in the mirror lately? You

brother. Watch your

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at her with

naturally defended her daughter. “Yannick, what do you think you’re

She’s your sister. We need to present a united

the tension. “Absolutely, our biggest threat right now is