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!

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

in good health, Eliza’s future in the family would be secure. If Wendy’s health declined,

better to help Wendy

mind?” Nancy was the first to protest, “All that money, and you just want to

voiced her opposition. “I’m all for treating Mom,

one, Wendy’s grandchildren joined in the

and Hayden, who remained silent, the rest quarreled, their faces red

said, “Let’s discuss this outside. Don’t

she led the way to the

an hour later, somehow, Eliza

Three days later.

annual yacht party

also for networking and consolidating the family’s influence and

involving Gillian, the turnout was

Ashfords controlled Sea City’s most lucrative projects. Not to mention,

not want a piece of that

yacht was abuzz with guests, all smiles and discreetly sizing

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

manipulations had worked; many men were still loyally vying for her attention, even proposing fair

that as long as she maintained her status,

former glory tonight, she could

to redeem herself, marry into wealth, and destroy

with Gillian among old friends, who, keen on maintaining ties

was all

Percival

envy as she spotted them holding

a low voice, “Remember what I told you? No more scheming

to apologize to Vivienne, right? I’ll go right now.” Gillian

reluctant or not, she had to make that apology

game, and there would undoubtedly be

picked up her glass, and approached Percival and

them with a

it was an Ashford event, Percival and Vivienne would

you

now on, I truly view Mr. Ellington as nothing more than a brother

slightly, her face the picture of

was the epitome

“I don’t need a

he prepared to

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

did not respond now, it would be a slap in the face to the Ashford family in