The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Eliza squinted her eyes and then burst into tears, spilling the beans about everything Vivienne had done in the Boyd Mansion.

From the first day she arrived, insisting the whole family disinfect and kneel to welcome her, to the gruesome act of cutting off Wendy’s hand, Eliza left no stone unturned in her vivid recount.

The crowd was in disbelief. How could Vivienne, just a young girl, be so extreme?

Eliza then produced a video as evidence. “This is from our home security system. Every single thing she did is captured here. I’m not lying!”

The video played out before their eyes, and gasps of shock were heard, especially during the chilling moment Vivienne severed Wendy’s hand.

Vivienne did not deny her actions and calmly admitted, “Yes, I did those things.”

“Vivienne, if you hadn’t done all this, how could my mother have passed away so suddenly? It’s all because of you. You better give me the Boyd family signet ring back now. It belongs to our family, and you don’t deserve to wear it!”

Eliza’s accusations, backed by the video, filled everyone with righteous indignation towards Vivienne.

Watching Eliza’s tear-stained face, Vivienne just smiled. “Why don’t we watch the rest of the video?”

Eliza was puzzled. The footage of the hand-cutting had already played.

What more could there be?

The crowd turned their attention back to the screen only to see Vivienne reattach Wendy’s hand, followed by the Boyd family members beating her on the ground. Then, the video showed Eliza smothering her mother to death with a pillow!

Eliza stumbled backward in shock.

Impossible. She had deleted that part of the video and even destroyed the hard drive.

How could it still exist?

The room fell silent.

“Eliza killed her!”

“My God, her own mother…”

Someone, call

cue, a police car pulled up outside the funeral

removed the Boyd family signet ring from her finger, and handed it

wish had

and caught sight of Nathan, whom she had not seen in

to Cecilia, and Nathan was there with

beloved mother. Please, take her away,” Nathan said, sheltering Cecilia in his arms

to the murmurs around

to approach him, to ask why he did not

was

Eliza to the ground, handcuffed her, and

Eliza coughed up blood and, with

supposed to marry Nathan! Let me go! I’m Mrs.

whispered, “Vivienne, did you

it was her own undoing. She couldn’t

secure the ring and get closer to Nathan

years ago or today, Nathan’s eyes had

Nathan’s embrace, her eyes moist with emotion. She had thought her estrangement from her family would be

Cecilia’s hair. “It’s okay now,

her mother’s portrait, and Eliza’s deranged screams

that, Cecilia’s ties to the Boyd

funeral had sent shock-waves through Sea City; it was a story that demanded discussion due

villa, not

allow me to introduce myself. I’m Vivienne’s uncle, Maddox Perez. You can just call me Maddox,” he said with a familiarity that took Cecilia

“Mr.

seat. I’ve been briefed about the family situation. Don’t worry. I’ll handle the aftermath in Sea City. No one messes with the Perez family on my watch. You

Maddox’s boisterousness, Nathan was unsure how to

unsure how to interact with Maddox, leading to an awkward

stepped in to smooth things over. “Uncle, why

plan some fun activities for tomorrow,” Maddox said, waving them off with a carefree

led Cecilia

Perez family not supposed to be

character,