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.

You’re bad luck.

out too, “Percival, this is

“Percival, the Boyds have important matters today. Please leave, and we’ll discuss future issues later. I’ll have a word with

“Are you sure you want me to

Percival, intervened, “Percival, please take Ms. Hawthorn and leave. Today is really not the

hugged Vivienne, fingers tracing her silhouette, reluctantly letting go. “Vivienne, it seems like my grandmother doesn’t need

were taken aback

and that he was

she placed her bag on the floor and spoke seriously, “You’ve paid a

Huxley piped up. “You’re

somewhat surprised that the quietest member of

of silence followed, then the room

are you talking,

get your head checked. If

array of medical tools. With a simple gesture, Margot

wait, my voice… Oh

Margot hardly resembled an ordinary girl; she looked

chuckled, “Didn’t you say you were Merlin himself?

Boyd household as

that she was actually

Frostfire Intelligence Agency. “Hello, I was wondering, has the Specter

Vivienne Hawthorn. You

and the faces of the Boyd

nearly bulged out of

imagined that Vivienne, of all people,

could it

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 – to a revered and almost

did she

“How… how could you possibly reattach my hand? Are you

“I have a code of ethics. After taking your 800 billion dollars, I will, of course, heal your

epitome of honor; taking money meant getting the job

Wendy was speechless.

like I’d believe

but how could she, confined