The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Evening had settled when Eliza stepped into Wendy’s room.

“Mom, why are you still up at this hour?” Eliza perched herself beside Wendy, the picture of a dutiful daughter.

Wendy cherished Eliza deeply, having protected her like the apple of her eye since she was a child.

Now, in her current state, she trusted no one more than Eliza.

“Eliza, with me in this condition, I would not put it past my daughters-in-law to have all sorts of ideas. We can’t let them get the better of us, darling. Your brothers are no use either, only seeing dollar signs.”

Eliza nestled close to Wendy, chuckling softly. “Don’t worry, Mom. The Boyds won’t be played by my sisters-in-law. Our family’s assets won’t fall into the wrong hands, not on my watch.”

Wendy nodded in assurance. “I knew I could count on you to ease my worries. Eliza, I’ve taken note of your ambitions all those years and prepared for it. This visit from Percival, it’s so you can get acquainted with the Ellingtons, you understand?”

Relief washed over Eliza with those words.

As long as she could see Nathan Ellington again, she would do anything.

“Yeah, I know you’ve always got my back, Mom.” Eliza leaned on Wendy’s shoulder, briefly catching sight of her amputated hand and quickly averting her gaze with a hint of distaste.

Wendy’s hand was already skeletal, a ghastly sight, and with the stump so starkly exposed, it was downright macabre.

“Mom, what are your plans regarding the Specter Healer?” Eliza inquired.

Wendy scoffed. “He’s just after money, isn’t he? I have plenty, though it might be a bit tricky to come up with 800 billion dollars at once. But, opportunities are not nonexistent.”

Eliza looked at Wendy skeptically.

Plenty of money? What a joke.

As the CFO of Boyd Group, she was all too aware of how much the Boyd family had.

Not to mention 800 billion, even 800 million would require careful consideration.

Where was her mother getting this confidence from?

Noticing Eliza’s doubt, Wendy smiled. “Have you forgotten our ace in the hole?”

hole?” Eliza’s

remote and switched on the

The screen also

on Eliza

the Ashford family’s fortune, turning

than feasible with

Patrick will turn

is a hot potato right now. Who would dare get involved? And with Gillian’s reputation in ruins, who would want her? But, just one call from you, inviting her to turn to the Boyds, bringing all Ashford business

was exploiting the

sole Ashford heiress, would be

a fool. With the gravity of

ones to extend help, Gillian would agree to any

business and unveiling the Boyd family’s

make the call right away.” Eliza

they could snatch all the Ashford business, it would be about

be kept secret from the other Boyds, or they would certainly want a piece of

had to keep everything under her control to negotiate with the Ellingtons from

family’s next

you just wait to be cast

…

processed Patrick’s arrest when she was bombarded

large company and its numerous projects, Patrick had inevitably borrowed

his arrest, the

aside, clueless

her had vanished into thin air, leaving her utterly

the doorbell rang.

warily. “What are

smiled warmly. “Gillian, I came to see how you’re holding up. Your dad and I go way back, and I’ve watched you grow up. I could not just sit by while your

had heard in a while, and tears sprung to her

Gillian rushed forward and embraced Eliza,

been close to Mara and had grown up calling

Gillian to sit beside her. “Gillian, given the circumstances, there’s only

just tell me what to do. I’ll follow your lead,” Gillian said, entirely out of her depth with business affairs. Having someone willing to help was

now the sole heir to the Ashford Group. After your father’s incident, you’ll take over as CEO. All you have to do is sign the Ashford Group’s over to the Boyd Group. That’ll help you tackle some of the debt with the banks. Once we stabilize the

lost in the fog. “Auntie, I don’t really understand these company

will still be the same, just under the umbrella of Boyd Group. We won’t let you