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

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

Boyd family signet ring from her

had finally come

family ring and caught sight of Nathan, whom she

and Nathan

behind the murder of my beloved mother. Please, take her away,” Nathan said, sheltering Cecilia in his arms without sparing a

to the murmurs around her; her eyes

approach him, to ask why

it was too

police pinned Eliza to the ground, handcuffed her, and

blood and, with a jolt, burst into

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

and whispered, “Vivienne,

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

spectacularly. She thought she could secure the ring and get closer

years ago or today, Nathan’s

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

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

her mother’s portrait, and Eliza’s

ties to the Boyd family had truly vanished

Sea City; it was a story that demanded discussion due to the sheer weight

and Nathan to her villa, not expecting that Maddox would

Maddox Perez. You can just call me Maddox,” he said

shook Maddox’s hand warmly. “Mr. Perez,

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

boisterousness, Nathan was unsure

too, was unsure how to interact with Maddox,

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

on and get some rest. We can plan some fun activities for tomorrow,” Maddox said, waving

nodding, led Cecilia back

not

was quite the character,