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 shut tight; the

blood-curdling scream erupted

Boyd family thundered down the stairs. Teresa clutched her daughter Margot close as she ran to Wendy’s side, her voice shaking. “Mom, what

held Mara tightly, her voice laced with panic. “I was in the bathroom when one crashed through

at odds,

police. But before he could act, several wolves bounded down the stairs,

wheelchair, she swung her cane

torn to ribbons,

and silent, having never anticipated this development. The wolves were not

reigned, but the immediate concern was for Wendy. Her sons and grandsons, red with anger

would dare wrestle

the butler turned his back, unable to witness

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

the Boyd family, from

unable to leave, as the servants had scattered in fear. The great hall was empty save for him,

drooling as if they were the main course at a feast, and the family was paralyzed with fear, huddled together in their

and screamed for

don’t want to

this. As her children and grandchildren clung to her, shaking her violently, she fainted

still far from composed. They stood

family was on the

Vivienne stepped

hesitation, he grabbed Vivienne, spun her around, and walked right back out, his

becoming more rebellious by the

had told him not to worry, that she would handle everything. He trusted Vivienne and nodded

known

to deal with the Boyds without

still underage, yet she was supposed to

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