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.
not been holding his hand, Percival was sure he would have taken off the butler's
decontamination room for a cleansing shower before
shoes was one thing, but a
the Boyd Mansion hiding a royal
processing before
with her ring-adorned hand. A gentle squeeze was all it took for the sound
and as he was about to curse, he caught sight of the ring
the heirloom ring of the Boyd
did it end up in
lips curved slightly upward. "Isn't there a Boyd family rule that requires one to kneel to greet the head?
clutching his limp arm, knelt in panic.
many such protocols. In fact, many families did, but as time passed and the world changed, these rules were slowly forgotten, especially by the
spoken
head of the family mentioned them,
ground, Vivienne spoke sternly,
and bowed. "Ma'am, please
hurried into the Boyd mansion,
"Trouble, matriarch!"
"What's the rush? Is the house on fire? Didn't I tell you to take Percival and his country slut
glasses, Wendy looked every
"No, it's that slut... That woman has the long-missing
was visibly shaken
had searched for that ring for thirty years
hidden it, giving it
were best friends, which was why she could marry into the Boyd
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