The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Watching the two families on the brink of another spat, Wendy tapped impatiently on the floor with her cane. “Marrying you two into the Boyd family has been headache enough. There’s no way Gillian is setting foot in our house. You can forget that fantasy right now!”

Nancy’s anger subsided a bit at her mother-in-law’s words. As long as Mara and Gillian remained tight as thieves, she felt secure that the Ashford fortune would not slip through their fingers.

Teresa, momentarily distracted from her quarrel with Nancy, chimed in anxiously, “Mom, aren’t you worried about the Ellingtons sticking their nose in our business?”

“The Ellingtons don’t have the guts,” Wendy snapped, giving Teresa a sharp look. “Eliza and Patrick have already come to an understanding. No need for you to fret.”

With a dismissive wave, Wendy signaled for them to retire to their rooms.

Seeing this, the members of the first and secondary branches of the family had no choice but to leave the room.

It was then that the butler rushed in, his face flushed with panic. “Vivienne and Percival have arrived!”

Wendy raised an eyebrow, her expression darkening. “So they’re here. Why the fuss? It’s not like they can eat you.”

The butler stammered, clearly terrified, “Wolves, wolves!”

“What wolves? You idiot. What’s the point of keeping you if you can’t even form a proper sentence?” Wendy’s expression turned gloomier.

“They’ve brought a pack of wolves! They let them loose in the courtyard, and they’re tearing up your prized rose garden and… and Mr. Theodore’s pet beagle… it’s been eaten, and now…”

He paused, glancing fearfully at Wendy before continuing with a trembling voice, “Some of them have even jumped through your bedroom window. The servants are hiding everywhere, too scared to come out.”

The Boyd household’s servants were usually bustling about from dawn, not idling in the main hall.

When Vivienne and Percival entered with their pack of wolves, the terror they incited was palpable. One servant had even fainted from fear.

“Wolves? Here?” Wendy gasped in disbelief. “Where did they come from?”

do? The doors to the great hall are

erupted from upstairs, followed

family thundered down the stairs. Teresa clutched her daughter Margot close as she ran to Wendy’s side, her voice shaking. “Mom, what is happening? Why are there wolves running amok

voice laced with panic. “I was in the bathroom when one crashed through

Margot, usually at odds, were

as she ordered the butler to call the police. But before he could act, several

by the wolves. Trapped in her wheelchair, she swung her cane desperately, but the more

moments, her garments were torn

stunned and silent, having never anticipated this development. The

but the immediate concern was for Wendy. Her sons and grandsons, red with anger and embarrassment, were helpless to

wrestle

his back, unable to

hide and seek. But they were quickly subdued, their clothes ripped away

of the Boyd family, from Wendy down to her

in fear. The great hall was empty save for him, and he was too

main course at a feast, and the family was paralyzed with fear,

and daughters-in-law sobbed and

want to

this. As her children and grandchildren clung to her, shaking her

but were still far from composed. They stood rigid, staring at the hungry wolves, their bodies tense

when the Boyd family was on the brink of collapse, the front door swung

and Vivienne

typically composed face twist with disgust. Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed Vivienne, spun her around, and walked right back out, his hand swiftly covering her

becoming more rebellious

would handle everything. He trusted Vivienne and

would have never consented if he had known that Vivienne intended

of ways to deal with the Boyds without

underage, yet she was supposed to witness

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