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,

authorities have just taken in my brothers,

into a sob, “Is Percival with you? Can he let Cecilia know to

worthy of an award,

a smirk tugging at his lips at the sight of Eliza’s dramatic

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

“I’ll

the wailing that was ruining

crying ceased as the dial tone echoed, and a flicker of resentment

Wendy was Cecilia’s mother!

come to the funeral; only then could she see Nathan. If Percival would not pass the message, she would send

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

had intercepted her text, and she was under constant

Eliza began to prepare for

gathered alongside the Boyds’ extended family. Despite their current misfortune, the Boyds maintained

decades and wondered how he had aged. Knowing him, he would have only grown more

she yearned to see but saw none. Instead, Vivienne and Percival, clad in striking red, stepped out of a flashy red sports

murmured. It was Percival’s grandmother’s funeral; how could they be

was not upset. In fact, she was smug. The more outrageous Vivienne and Percival acted, the better for her. And her immediate goal was to reclaim the Boyd family’s signet ring and find

attend

One funeral, two birds.

offering a bouquet. “Percival, pay respects to your grandma. She won’t hold

token gesture. It was plain to see

the circumstances, this was a funeral, and they were showing disrespect not just with their attire

grandmother,” someone in the crowd admonished, a hint of

agreement followed, voices

dead is the least you could do. Can’t you even pretend to

downright shameful, unworthy of calling yourselves