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.

are insufficient to reattach it. In fact, there’s no hospital in the country capable of such a feat,

paused, then continued, “There is someone I’ve heard of, the Specter Healer, who is said to have the skill to reattach limbs. There was once a man paralyzed for ten years whom he helped to stand again with just a

old and possesses exceptional medical skills, capable of not only reattaching limbs but also of snatching lives back from the jaws of death. If

shook his head. “Specter Healer is quite

scoffed. “What are you saying? If we offer him a high enough price, why wouldn’t he

her twilight years anyway. But the Boyd family still relied on Wendy’s guidance, and losing her influence would be detrimental to their standing in Sea City, a prospect

it would not

Flence Country offered him a fortune, he did not acquiesce. Countless wealthy families in Veridia have offered tens of

his idol, and he would not stand someone

a doctor, after all. Billions? As if he’s some kind of deity. If

Oh, and by the way, I’ll resign from my position as

why resign so suddenly? My mother still needs your care. You’ve been with us for so long, and

for you, but I did not expect your wife to disparage him so.

snapped, “If you want to go, then go! The Boyd family can find another doctor easily enough! Not only are you dismissed, but I’ll also ensure you can’t find work in this

up!” Theodore

to me like that? To see a doctor is one thing, but why put

Marcus gave a cold laugh and left without

furious, ready to lash out at Teresa, but Hayden held him back. “Theodore, now’s not the time to fight. We need to figure out what to do

Vivienne has

cursed. “If we could have gone to the police, do you think we would

was too sinister. From the moment she claimed her position as head of the family to the day she chopped off Wendy’s

had 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

of frustration tightening within

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

to the turmoil in the Boyd family. If word got out that the matriarch had lost her hand, there would