The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Teresa wanted to speak up, but catching the stern look on Wendy’s face, she bit her tongue.

But she disagreed strongly.

This was 800 billion, not a measly 800 dollars. Sure, she wanted Wendy’s hand to heal, to make the Boyd family prosper. However, spending such an astronomical sum on a hand treatment seemed ludicrous.

Would that not be better if that money were split between their two families?

“Mom? What do we do now?” Theodore, coming to his senses, looked to Wendy for guidance.

He would have agreed without a second thought if it were a few hundred or a few million.

But 800 billion? He was much less inclined to spend that much on Wendy’s hand treatment.

If she recovered, fine. But it would be like throwing money down the drain if she did not.

Moreover, treating Wendy’s hand was supposed to benefit the Boyds, not drag them down.

Wendy hesitated, too.

This decision was a tough one.

It was then that Eliza hurried in.

As soon as she entered, she checked Wendy’s hand and cursed, “That Vivienne is a piece of work. How dare she do this to you? It’s despicable.”

She had been out handling some business for the Boyds yesterday and was not around. But she got a call from Wendy this morning detailing the situation, and without a second thought, she rushed over.

“You’re here just in time. There’s something I can’t decide on my own. I need your opinion,” Wendy said, giving Eliza a knowing look.

Eliza paused momentarily before Wendy added, “The Specter Healer claims he can fix my hand and my back, but his price is exorbitant—800 billion. I don’t know if I should go through with it.”

Eliza was stunned.

So much money for a treatment?

Of course, they could not agree!

But feeling Wendy’s expectant gaze, she wavered.

Wendy clearly wanted to get better, but the first and secondary branches of the family were sure to disagree. Her mother was too proud to plead. So, Wendy turned to her to voice the difficult choice.

But Eliza did not want to agree either!

Eliza finally said, “Do it! No matter the cost, we should do

would be secure. If Wendy’s health declined, her greedy in-laws would

better to help

your mind?” Nancy was the first to protest, “All that money, and

for treating Mom, but that’s just too much

one, Wendy’s grandchildren joined in

Theodore and Hayden, who remained silent, the

“Let’s discuss this

she led the way to the

an hour later, somehow, Eliza had persuaded everyone. They

Three days later.

Ashford family’s annual yacht party

ostensibly for family reunions, but also for networking and consolidating the

the recent scandal involving Gillian, the turnout was

City’s most lucrative projects. Not to mention,

want a piece

and discreetly

to use this event to showcase her talents and overshadow her past

men were still loyally vying for her attention, even proposing fair

as long as she maintained her status,

glory tonight, she could gloat

redeem herself,

old friends, who, keen on maintaining ties with the

was all an unspoken

Percival arrived with

envy as she spotted them holding

in a low voice, “Remember what I told you?

know, you’ve been drilling it into me for days. You want me to apologize to Vivienne, right? I’ll go right now.” Gillian bit her

had

playing the long game, and there would undoubtedly be

picked up her glass, and approached

greeted them with a faint smile. “Long time

that it was an Ashford event, Percival and Vivienne would surely not snub

you want?”

was foolish before. Please forgive my past indiscretions. From now on, I truly view

slightly, her face the picture

it was the epitome of

“I don’t need

prepared to

Ellington, are you still angry with me?” Gillian raised her voice slightly, drawing the attention of

would be a slap in the