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.

reckoning

Vivienne received a text from

been

phone, “Wendy still has that kind of

of

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

What a joke.

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

…

dressed and invigorated with some medicine, finally stepped through the front

“Dad, you’re finally back. I was so scared, I thought you’d

his daughter’s hair. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be gone for a bit

the best,” Gillian said, leading him to the couch. “Dad, I did everything you told me to. But how did you know the Boyds would come

Gillian often played the airhead, yearning to be the darling of Sea City’s elite bachelors, she was far from foolish. How else could she have wrapped so many around

thrown at her were nothing but leftovers

clear to her that the contract was Eliza’s

the prey

had made his instructions clear before the yacht gala: if the Ashfords were in trouble and the Boyds came sniffing around for an advantage, let them

Gillian feigned panic

on a bone. But they should check if they’ve got the teeth for it. Gillian, once I swallow up the Boyd Group, we’ll reach out to the Ellingtons, and you’ll marry into their

knew you’d always look out for me, Dad. I’ll listen to you from

suffer. But remember, never act on your own. Marrying Percival won’t be easy; we must play our

murky eyes harboring a strange

fantasies, Gillian missed her

made headlines, and he quickly called a press conference to clear

Group and me in hopes of seizing

Patrick, swear again that neither I nor the Ashford Group will engage in any

across the internet through live streams and media coverage, effectively severing his association with the three-ton Keco

Patrick stepped down from the stage and went to the