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!

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

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

to help

you out of your mind?” Nancy was the first to protest, “All that money, and you just want to give it

for treating Mom, but

Wendy’s grandchildren

Hayden, who remained silent, the rest

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

that, she led the way to the

later, somehow, Eliza had persuaded everyone.

Three days later.

Ashford family’s annual yacht party went ahead as

reunions, but also

involving Gillian, the turnout

understood that the Ashfords controlled Sea City’s most lucrative projects. Not to mention, they

would not want a

yacht was abuzz with guests, all smiles and discreetly sizing up

showcase her talents and overshadow her past negative

many men were still loyally vying for

as she maintained her

tonight, she could gloat in front of Vivienne

redeem herself,

friends, who, keen on maintaining ties with the Ashfords, lavished praise on

all an unspoken

rounds, Percival

with envy as she spotted

warned in a low voice, “Remember what I told

been drilling it into me for days. You want me to apologize to Vivienne, right? I’ll go

she had to

and there would undoubtedly be opportunities in

up her glass,

Gillian greeted them with a faint smile. “Long

Ashford event, Percival and Vivienne would surely not

you

indiscretions. From now on, I truly view Mr. Ellington as

slightly, her face the picture

it was the epitome

“I don’t

prepared

Gillian raised her

respond now, it would be a slap in the face to