The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Wendy’s withered hand was trampled beneath the feet of her sons and daughters-in-law, kicked around as though it were a soccer ball.

Wendy was yanked from her wheelchair to the floor by Nancy, like a dying, desiccated old dog, repeatedly jabbed by the pointed heel of Nancy’s stiletto.

Vivienne said nothing.

Percival said nothing.

Such dutiful descendants Wendy had indeed!

“You useless old hag, I’ve tolerated you for far too long. Our side of the family has done the most; in the end, we’re left with nothing. Your blatant favoritism for your daughter could make a saint rage, and now you still expect to charm us with a mere sliver of shares? Ptooey!”

Eliza was no better off. Teresa had always been the most envious of the Ashford family’s assets, and now that they were all in Eliza’s hands, her resentment was even more palpable.

Thinking of the energy and the sacrifices her son had made for such meager gains only stoked Teresa’s fury, making her blows all the more vicious.

“You little vixen, I knew you were never as kindhearted as you pretended, flaunting your shares as bait. You really overestimate yourself. If you don’t cough up the Ashford family’s funds today, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”

Once greed infects the human heart, it ceases to be human at all.

Vivienne had seen her fair share of families torn apart by petty squabbles over inheritance; the Brooks and the Ellingtons had succumbed to similar fates.

For the sake of money, they would abandon principles and kinship without a second thought.

The Boyds were no different, willing to tear each other apart over a fortune, treating their elderly mother’s hand as if it were nothing more than trash to be kicked around.

Sharp stilettos and ring-adorned fists became weapons in the battle for wealth.

Even without this fortune, such a family was destined to become a casualty of greed before long.

Percival draped his coat over Vivienne’s shoulders and embraced her, steering her away from the Boyd Mansion.

family’s reckoning

leaving the Boyd Mansion, Vivienne received a text from

Patrick’s been

“Wendy still has that kind of

scoffed. “None of the Boyds

to expand their business. With Patrick in such hot water, the Boyds would be lucky to save their own skins,

What a joke.

approval apparent. “The people my mother picked would always have some tricks

…

invigorated with some medicine, finally stepped through the

Gillian flung herself at her father. “Dad, you’re finally back. I

his daughter’s hair. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be gone for a bit and back soon? With my girl here, how could I not

“Dad, I did everything you told me to. But how did you know the Boyds would

be the darling of Sea City’s elite bachelors, she was far from foolish. How else

at her were nothing

clear to her that the contract was Eliza’s

capture the prey

the Boyds came sniffing around for

when Eliza approached, Gillian feigned panic and,

on a bone. But they should check if they’ve got the teeth for it. Gillian,

shoulder. “I knew you’d always look out for me, Dad. I’ll listen

act on your own. Marrying Percival won’t be easy;

grew more profound, his murky eyes harboring a strange

in her fantasies, Gillian missed her father’s

quickly called a

because the Ashford Group or I had crossed any legal lines. Instead, unscrupulous competitors tried to frame the Ashford Group and me in hopes of seizing our assets during the chaos. The nation has now vindicated me, lifting all restrictions, and I ask that all my well-wishers

swear again that neither I nor the Ashford Group will engage in any unlawful activities. We are

speech quickly spread across the internet through live streams and media coverage, effectively severing his association with the three-ton Keco that had

Patrick stepped down from the stage