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?”

know, Madam!” The butler was near tears, his legs shaking. “What should we do? The doors to the great hall are shut tight; the wolves can’t get in there for the moment. But they’ve already

finish, a blood-curdling scream erupted from upstairs, followed by a

she ran to Wendy’s side, her voice shaking. “Mom, what is happening? Why are there wolves running amok

her voice laced with panic. “I was in the bathroom when one crashed through the window. I nearly passed out from fear.

at odds, were now

she ordered the butler to call the police. But before

in her wheelchair, she swung her cane

moments, her garments were torn to ribbons,

silent, having never anticipated this development. The wolves

red with anger and embarrassment, were helpless to intervene as they witnessed Wendy get stripped

wrestle

butler turned his back, unable to witness

a frenzy of hide and seek. But they were quickly subdued, their clothes ripped

long, every member of the Boyd family, from Wendy

trembling, unable to leave, as the servants had scattered in fear. The great hall

course at a feast, and the family was

sobbed and screamed for help, “Someone

don’t want to

though accustomed to crises, had never faced anything like this. As her children and grandchildren clung to

Hayden fared slightly better but were still far from composed. They stood rigid, staring at the hungry wolves, their

when the Boyd family was on the

Vivienne

a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed Vivienne, spun her around, and walked right back out, his hand swiftly

becoming more rebellious by

would handle everything. He trusted Vivienne and

have never consented if he had known that Vivienne intended

had plenty of ways to deal with

still underage, yet she was supposed to witness the

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