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…”

is horrifying. Someone, call

up outside

the Boyd family signet ring from her finger,

had finally come

Boyd family ring and caught sight of Nathan, whom she had not seen in over

and Nathan was there with the police

behind the murder of my beloved mother. Please, take her away,” Nathan said, sheltering Cecilia

deaf to the murmurs around

ask why he did

it was

to the ground, handcuffed her,

and, with a jolt, burst into manic

I’m Mrs. Ellington! That Cecilia is nothing, I’ve killed her, I killed

shielded Vivienne’s eyes and whispered, “Vivienne, did you do

shook her head. “No, it was her own undoing.

plans had backfired spectacularly. She thought she could secure the ring and get closer to Nathan by orchestrating this funeral, but she had been deluding

years ago or today, Nathan’s eyes had only ever

her estrangement from her family would

stroked Cecilia’s hair. “It’s okay now,

at her mother’s portrait, and Eliza’s deranged screams seemed to fade

that, Cecilia’s ties to the Boyd family had truly

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

not expecting that

just call me Maddox,” he

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

no need for formalities. Come on, Cecilia, take a seat. I’ve been briefed about the family situation. Don’t worry. I’ll

Nathan was unsure

how to interact

over. “Uncle, why

rest. We can plan some fun

Cecilia

not supposed to be

was quite the character,