The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Wendy froze, disbelief etched across her face as Eliza’s words sank in.

With a swift motion, Eliza grabbed a decorative pillow from the couch and pressed it against Wendy’s face.

As she bore down with all her might, Eliza hissed, “Just so you know, every single present you’ve ever received was bought by Cecilia. I was merely the delivery girl. And every mistake? That was all me. But Cecilia, with her hapless, tender heart, took the fall every time. Before you kicked her out for the last time, she left you a sum of money. Guess what? I pocketed that with a laugh.

Mom, so why don’t you just go ahead and die? Once you’re gone, I’ll have the perfect excuse to worm into the Ellington family’s graces to get close to Nathan. Cecilia’s a soft touch; she’ll surely take me in, right?

Your existence is nothing but a burden to me. Better you’re dead so that I can squeeze out one last benefit. Don’t worry, I’ll get the Boyd family’s signet ring and raise our name from the ashes.”

Wendy struggled briefly beneath the pillow but soon fell still.

She had died at the hands of the daughter she had cherished all her life.

Eliza let out a slow breath, dragged Wendy’s body into the bedroom, and staged the scene to look like an accidental death.

Then, pulling out her phone, she dialed Vivienne.

Meanwhile, Vivienne answered the call, her gaze still fixed on the computer screen, which displayed Eliza’s malicious face.

“Ms. Hawthorn, it’s Eliza,” the voice on the line said.

Vivienne reclined against the sofa, lazily stretching her legs onto the coffee table. “Mrs. Watson, something I can do for you?”

Eliza despised the way Vivienne called her by her name. If only she had married Nathan back then, Vivienne would have to respectfully address her as “Mom.”

She was a hundred times better than Cecilia, yet Nathan only had eyes for that fool!

Eliza had been simmering with resentment for years, dreaming of the day she would replace Cecilia and become Nathan’s wife.

Eliza steadied her voice, “Ms. Hawthorn, I know you’ve got beef with the Boyds, but karma’s caught up with them now. I’m calling you today because there’s something else.”

“So, what’s

pause, Eliza continued, “The authorities have just taken in my brothers, and my mom… She passed away from

you? Can he let Cecilia

knees, Eliza put on a performance worthy of an award, yelling,

milk, a smirk tugging at his lips

only his mother had such acting skills when she was caught eating spicy snacks while pregnant with Isolde, she would not have been banned from them

phone and said, “I’ll be there on behalf

the wailing

flicker of resentment crossed her eyes. They did not

Wendy was Cecilia’s mother!

see Nathan. If Percival would not pass the message, she

text on her phone with the funeral notice from Eliza. Tapping a few times, she

completely unaware that Vivienne had intercepted her text, and

a confirmed response, Eliza began to prepare for

gathered alongside the Boyds’ extended

had not seen him in over two decades and wondered how

guests arrived, Eliza scanned for the one face she yearned to see but saw none. Instead, Vivienne and Percival, clad in striking red, stepped out of a flashy red

Percival’s grandmother’s funeral; how could they be

was smug. The more outrageous Vivienne and Percival acted, the better for her. And her immediate goal was to reclaim the Boyd family’s

attend

One funeral, two birds.

a bouquet. “Percival, pay respects to your

Vivienne made a token gesture. It was plain to see their hearts were not in

to watch. Regardless of the circumstances, this was a funeral, and they were showing disrespect not

for heaven’s sake, that was your grandmother,” someone in the crowd admonished,

chorus of agreement followed, voices tinged with disappointment and

could do. Can’t you even

being downright shameful, unworthy of calling