The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In front of the Boyd Mansion.

As Wendy approached, she could not miss the sparkling ring on Vivienne’s finger. Under her breath, she cursed, “That little bitch!” But her face was all smiles as she said, “Percival, darling, why stand out here? You're at granny’s now; there's no need to be so formal. Con in!” Percival scanned Wendy with a glance. If it weren't for the mission he was concealing, he'd never again associate with the Boyds. It made his skin crawl.

“We haven't sanitized and showered yet; it wouldn't be proper to cin,” Percival replied coolly.

Wendy despised him all the more for it.

Percival was even more insufferable than his grandfather. Give him an inch, and he would not take it. Those Ellingtons, all with a stick up their backside! But for the sake of that elusive trade route, she had to play along.

With a thwack, Wendy brought her solid oak cane down on the butler’s shin, sending him tumbling to the ground in surprise.

“You ungrateful wretch, Percival’s family, isn’t he? | told you to have those riff-raff from who knows where to clean up, not Percival! You muddle-headed fool, you can kiss your bonus goodbye this month.” Vivienne watched from the side, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

Riff-raff from nowhere? Was that directed at her? Surely, it was.

After scolding the butler, Wendy turned back to Percival | x § a forced smile and said, “Percival, the servants are clueless sometimes. Please, cinside. Don’t just stand out here.” But Percival acted as if he had not heard Wendy. Instead, he turned to Vivienne.

Vivienne smiled lightly. “I heard it’s Boyd tradition to sanitize and shower before meeting the head of the house?” Wendy's smile froze, taking a few seconds before replying, “We don’t have such a tradition in the Boyd family.” “Well, you do now,” Vivienne said, twisting the ring on her finger, and without changing shoes, she and Percival stepped onto the luxurious wool carpet.

Wendy adored that carpet. She would have the staff clean it meticulously by hand. Now, with four dirty footprints stamped across it, she felt like her organs were about to burst with rage.

Vivienne settled down, crossing her legs and resting them on the coffee table, her gaze casually turning to Wendy. “After you've sanitized and showered, cto see me.” Wendy's grip on her cane tightened. She wanted to smash it over Vivienne’s head but did not dare make a move.

This nineteen-year-old girl had a presence that even Wendy, well into her fifties, found intimidating.

After a moment of silence, Wendy reluctantly headed to the prepared decontamination room to shower and change, ready to cleanse herself! Half an hour later, Wendy emerged from the decontamination room, freshly dressed. Vivienne looked her over; she really had showered, and the fragrance of her body wash had muted the unpleasant odor.

Wendy approached, her heart aching at seeing her precious carpet, but she remained silent.

Then, she sat down and took a sip of water, saying, “Percival, your aunt and uncle are still out working. We'll have dinner when they get back.” Vivienne glanced at the clock. It was already 7:30 PM. Still out working? The Boyds were surely hardworking folks.

Percival’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sneer. After all these years, his grandmother had no new tricks. It was always the same.

As a child, every the and Cecilia returned, only Wendy would be home, claiming his aunt and uncle were out working, and they would eat when they returned. But once they did, they would say they had already eaten, leaving Cecilia hungry.

Percival leaned back. “Fine, we'll wait for them. We'll eat together.” Wendy pressed her lips. As a child, she thought Percival had nothing to him but his looks. Now, he seemed to radiate a chilling aura, like someone who had returned from a battlefield.

And that little bitch beside him, not a trace of girlishness to her.

The room was silent, devoid of even basic pleasantries.

Soon after, the Boyds started to return.

The first to enter were the family members of Boyd's eldest son, Theodore, and his wife, Teresa, followed by their children. The injured butler stopped them, “Master Theodore, please proceed to the decontamination room for a shower and change, as the head of the household ordered.” Having lived in the Boyd Mansion for over forty years, Theodore had never heard of such a thing as a household head or the need to sanitize before entering his own home.

He lost his temper and slapped the butler. “You mutt, who do you think you're speaking to?” Then, Hayden, his wife Nancy, and their children arrived.

Hearing about the sanitization procedure, they were all bewildered.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

The butler, clutching his face, helplessly implored, “This is all by the head of the household's command. Madam Wendy has already showered, and | must ask you all to do the same.” Theodore cursed. “I want to see who dares to makesanitize.” With that, he brushed past the butler and strode into the living room.

Seeing Vivienne seated there, he began to rant, “Who the hell thinks they can make me... saniti...” The words had barely left his lips when Theodore suddenly clutched his throat and collapsed to the ground, caught in a fit of violent coughing, unable to utter a single word.

Teresa's eyes widened in alarm. “Honey, what's happening to you?” Yannick, the eldest son of Theodore, pointed an accusatory finger at Vivienne. “Mom, it’s got to be that little bitch’s doing!” Percival’s brow twitched. In the blink of an eye, he stood before Yannick.

With a sickening snap, Yannick’s scream of agony sliced through the air! The Boyds were terrified. None had seen how Percival moved so quickly to Yannick’s side nor how he managed to break his fingers with such swift brutality.

Heartbroken for her son and grandson, Wendy yelled at Vivienne, “What in heaven’s nhave you done?” Vivienne crossed her arms, an arch brow raised as she looked at Wendy. “Is that any way to speak to the head of the family?” “You...” Wendy caught her breath, thinking of her son and grandson. She swallowed her pride. “Madam, what have you done?” Only then did the Boyds realize that the young woman Percival had brought with him was, in fact, the new family matriarch.

Vivienne nodded her head, satisfied. “Didn’t | mention? One must be presentable when meeting the head of the family.” Theodore’s daughter, Margot, was the first to snap out of the shock, supporting her brother and father. “Let’s head to the decontamination room,” she said.

Vivienne gave Margot a long, appraising look. Quick on the uptake, she noted silently.