At the Boyd Mansion, a shadow began to cast itself over Percival Ellington's usually charming features.
Truth be told, he had not frequented the Boyd Mansion often, but the few times he did, his visits invariably ended with Cecilia in tears.
As a kid, he could not fathom why the Boyds had such contempt for his mother. As he grew up, the reasons became apparent, and he stopped coming altogether.
Vivienne gazed out the car window. The Boyd Mansion was a majestic sight, grander even than the Brooks Mansion, which Maddox Perez had offhandedly referred to as "little space." "Percival, Ma'am, we've arrived," announced Thomas as he switched off the engine and stepped out to open the car door.
Percival helped Vivienne out of the car, and they stood in front of the massive gates of the Boyd Mansion. His eyes, deep as the ocean, seemed unfathomable.
He stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
"Who's there?" Came an inquiry through the intercom.
A slight frown creased Percival's brow as he replied, "Percival."
There was a momentary pause on the other end before the gate was buzzed open.
The wrought iron gate swung open slowly, yet curiously, no one came out to greet them.
Percival's frown deepened, a thin veil of anger enveloping him.
Vivienne gently tapped the back of his hand and offered a reassuring smile.
The anger surrounding Percival dissipated instantly, and with a smile, he took Vivienne's hand, and they walked in together.
At the entrance, two servants stood aside, revealing a man in a casual suit, the Boyd family butler. "Mr. Ellington, I presume. Please come in. The matriarch has been awaiting you." Percival did not respond, intending to proceed with Vivienne.
Unexpectedly, the butler stepped in their way.
sure he would have taken off the butler's
guests must change their shoes upon entry and proceed to the decontamination room for a cleansing shower before they can meet with the
thing, but a
Boyd Mansion hiding a royal
processing before
ring-adorned hand. A gentle squeeze was all it took for the sound of cracking bones to
butler's head, and as he was about
ring of the
up in the
lips curved slightly upward. "Isn't there a Boyd family rule that requires one
clutching his limp arm, knelt in
family had many such protocols. In fact, many families did, but as time passed and the world changed, these rules were slowly
were seldom spoken of, they
the head of the family mentioned them,
the butler on the ground, Vivienne spoke sternly, "Is it
understanding, quickly got up and bowed. "Ma'am, please wait here.
the butler hurried into the Boyd mansion, his injured
"Trouble, matriarch!"
in, agitation written all over his wrinkled face. "What's the
her regal bearing and gold-rimmed reading glasses, Wendy looked every bit the matriarch despite her
managed, "No, it's that slut... That woman has
was visibly shaken at the mention
had searched for that ring for thirty years to no
knew her mother had hidden it, giving it
mother and mother-in-law were best friends, which was why
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