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,

if on cue, a police car pulled up outside the funeral home, and out

Boyd family signet ring from her finger, and handed it

had finally come

caught sight of Nathan, whom she had not

Cecilia, and Nathan was

of my beloved mother. Please, take her away,” Nathan said, sheltering Cecilia in his arms without

murmurs around her; her eyes were fixed

approach him, to ask why he did not love

it was too

ground, handcuffed

up blood and, with

was supposed to marry Nathan! Let me go! I’m Mrs. Ellington! That Cecilia is nothing, I’ve killed

shielded Vivienne’s eyes and whispered,

shook her head. “No, it was her own undoing. She couldn’t handle the

could secure the ring and get closer to

ago or today, Nathan’s eyes had only

She had thought her estrangement from her family would be

hair. “It’s okay now,

and Eliza’s deranged screams seemed

Boyd family had truly vanished

funeral had sent shock-waves through Sea City; it was a story that demanded discussion due to the sheer weight of

and Nathan to her villa, not expecting that Maddox would

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

hand warmly. “Mr. Perez, I’ve heard much about

Nathan’s shoulder chummily. “We’re all family here, no need for formalities. Come on, Cecilia, take a 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

boisterousness, Nathan was unsure how to

interact

stepped in to smooth things over. “Uncle, why don’t

right, you two go on and get some rest. We can plan some fun activities for tomorrow,” Maddox said, waving them off

Cecilia

family not supposed to be

was quite the character, unsettling