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,

my brothers, and my mom… She passed away

sob, “Is Percival with you? Can

Eliza put on a performance worthy of an award,

glass of milk, a smirk tugging at his lips

snacks while pregnant with Isolde, she would not have been banned from them

“I’ll be there

the

and a flicker of resentment crossed her eyes. They did

Wendy was Cecilia’s mother!

could she see Nathan. If

a text on her phone with the funeral notice from Eliza.

Vivienne had intercepted her text, and she was

response, Eliza began to prepare for the

the Boyds’ extended family. Despite their

him in over two decades and wondered how he

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

and Percival acted, the better for her. And her immediate goal was to reclaim the Boyd family’s signet ring and

that she would attend

One funeral, two birds.

pay respects to your grandma.

the flowers, and he and Vivienne made a token gesture. It was plain to see their hearts

Regardless of the circumstances, this was a funeral, and they were showing disrespect not just

that was your grandmother,” someone in the crowd admonished,

of agreement followed, voices tinged with disappointment

the dead is the least you could do. Can’t

being downright shameful, unworthy of calling yourselves