The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Hayden was about to ask another question when Nancy cut him off.

“Eliza, Mom sure did not waste her affection on you. We’re all in awe to think you’d give up your shares so selflessly. Don’t worry, as long as there’s bread on our table, there will be a seat for you,” Nancy praised with a hint of insincerity, masking her eagerness for Eliza to relinquish all her shares and get Wendy the medical attention she needed.

To Nancy, it mattered little if Wendy got better or not as long as Eliza did not get her hands on the money.

The second branch had always been treated like the stepchild, overshadowed by the prestigious first branch and Eliza, the darling with Wendy’s favor. At least when Cecilia was around, she diverted some attention, but since she stopped visiting, the second branch had become even more neglected.

Now, with the family matriarch indisposed, Nancy had no intention of letting Hayden dip into the funds. Those were better saved for her own children.

Eliza merely smiled, keenly aware of Nancy’s thoughts. But it did not matter. With the control of the Ashford family’s wealth firmly in her grasp, once the Specter Healer cured her mother, and the Boyd family shares were hers, would both branches not have to dance to her tune?

After all, her ultimate goal was to use the Boyd and Ashford resources to obtain the Ellington Group.

As the butler wheeled out Wendy, the other Boyds settled on the couches, anxiously awaiting the Specter Healer’s arrival.

Two hours ticked by with no sign of him, causing Theodore to grow impatient. “Eliza, is this guy reliable or what? Did you actually transfer the shares, or did he bail?”

“No, that can’t be it,” Eliza frowned, feeling a stir of doubt, too. She had wired an astronomical sum and arranged everything with the Frostfire Intelligence Agency. The Specter Healer had no reason to stand them up.

“Eliza, show me the transfer papers. Don’t tell me you’ve been conned,” Teresa eyed her suspiciously.

Eliza cleared her throat. “Teresa, the Specter Healer is a man of his word. Perhaps he’s just running late due to some inconvenience of his old age. Don’t worry.”

“I just don’t want you to be…”

“Enough. You weren’t this concerned when it was time to fork the money. Eliza’s no fool. Everyone zip it.” Wendy cut Teresa off mid-sentence.

Just then, the Boyd family’s front door swung open, and the butler rushed to greet the new arrival. A collective sigh of relief filled the room – the Specter Healer had finally come.

But their expressions went from surprise to disappointment when they saw who it was.

“Why are you here?” Eliza asked in astonishment.

Vivienne, arm in arm with Percival, holding a bag, smirked. “Didn’t you invite me?”

Still fuming over Vivienne’s actions aboard the yacht, Mara scowled at her, her bruised face aching even more from the expression.

would not invite you here. You’re bad luck. Because of you, my grandma got hurt.

his own grudge, lashed out too, “Percival,

Boyds have important matters today. Please

you

impression on Percival, intervened, “Percival, please take Ms. Hawthorn and leave. Today is really not the best time; we have a distinguished guest. It’s

go. “Vivienne, it seems like

Boyd family members were

the Specter Healer and that he was

on the floor and spoke seriously, “You’ve paid a fortune for my services. No refunds if you refuse

stunned, and then Huxley piped up. “You’re the Specter

quietest member of the family had caught on

moment of silence followed, then the

nonsense are you

“You, the Specter Healer? I suggest you get your head checked. If you’re the Specter Healer, then

revealing an array of medical tools. With a simple gesture, Margot started

voice… Oh no, my

moment, Margot hardly resembled an ordinary girl; she looked more like

Merlin himself? I’m

laughter died quickly in the Boyd household as everyone stared at Vivienne with

that she was actually

grabbed her smartphone and dialed the head of the Frostfire Intelligence Agency. “Hello, I was

is Vivienne Hawthorn.

call was on speaker, and the faces

bulged out

that

could it

girl who grew up in that quaint little countryside chapel, dabbling in perfume making, jewelry design, fashion, and even hacking? With all those skills, how on earth did she master the art of medicine

she

Wendy looked at Vivienne in shock. “How… how

a code of ethics. After taking your 800 billion

the epitome of honor; taking money meant getting the

Wendy was speechless.

like I’d believe

about fleeing, but how could she,