The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The Boyd family was in complete disarray after Vivienne walked out the door.

Wendy collapsed in a faint, while Teresa, Nancy, and their daughters, were terrified, at a loss for what to do next.

The servants reacted first, calling the doctor and fetching clothes for the family.

Theodore and Hayden were livid with rage when they returned and saw the chaos.

Nobody had expected Vivienne, the girl from the countryside, to be so ruthless – not only had she set a pack of wolves on them, but she had also chopped off Wendy’s hand.

How on earth did she manage to get a wolf?

And how did she have the power to control the wolves?

Wendy was right; Vivienne was dabbling in dark arts!

By the time Theodore and the others were dressed, the doctor had finished treating Wendy.

Theodore rushed to meet the doctor.

“Dr. Marcus, how’s my mom doing?” Theodore asked.

Dr. Marcus was the Boyd family’s private physician. Given the circumstances, they could not exactly broadcast their problems, so they called him.

“Madam Wendy received timely care; her life is not in danger. She just needs plenty of rest to recover,” Dr. Marcus replied.

“And her hand… Is there any chance it can be saved?” Theodore pressed.

In fact, there’s no hospital in the country

a man paralyzed for ten years whom he helped to stand again with

and possesses exceptional medical skills, capable of not only reattaching limbs but also of snatching lives back from the jaws of death. If we could get him here, it would not only save Mom but also benefit

is quite unpredictable, and he doesn’t treat just any

saying? If we offer him a high enough

– the old lady was in her twilight years anyway. But the Boyd family still relied on Wendy’s guidance, and losing her influence would

who had maimed her, it would not

did not acquiesce. Countless wealthy families in Veridia have offered tens

his idol, and he would not stand someone disrespecting

after all. Billions? As if he’s some kind of deity. If he doesn’t want to come, we don’t

danger, I’ll take my leave. Oh, and by the way, I’ll resign from my position as your family’s private physician starting tomorrow.

Marcus, why resign so suddenly? My mother still needs your care. You’ve been with us for so long, and we’ve treated you well. It doesn’t seem right to just

Healer out of respect for you, but I did not expect your wife to disparage him so. Since your family looks down

are you dismissed, but I’ll also ensure you can’t

Theodore

“Am I wrong? Who is he to talk to me like that? To see a doctor is one thing, but why put up with such insolence? What use is he

laugh and left without

him back. “Theodore, now’s not the time to fight. We need to figure out what to

can we do but call the police? Vivienne has done us so much harm; if we don’t report her, aren’t we just letting

to the police, do you think

From the moment she claimed her position as head of the family to the day she chopped off Wendy’s hand, she acted without fear as

managed to keep their stronghold in Sea City through the years, though their hands were far from clean. They were still puzzled about Vivienne’s true intentions, and going to the police was out of the question. If Vivienne were to expose something that could ruin the Boyds,

knot of frustration tightening

ways to deal with her, but the real issue at hand is, what do we do

managed to keep the lid on the incident, the outside world oblivious to the turmoil in the Boyd family. If word got out that the matriarch had lost her hand, there would be those who would