The Million-Dollar Heart

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. Come on 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 come in," 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? I 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 with a forced smile and said, "Percival, the servants are clueless sometimes. Please, come inside. 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?"

a few seconds before replying, "We don't have

her finger, and without changing shoes, she and Percival

meticulously by hand. Now, with four dirty footprints stamped across it, she felt like her organs were about to burst

it over Vivienne's head but did

girl had a presence that even Wendy, well into her fifties,

moment of silence, Wendy reluctantly headed to the prepared decontamination room to shower and change, ready to cleanse

room, freshly dressed. Vivienne looked her over; she really had showered, and the fragrance of her body wash had

a sip of water, saying, "Percival, your aunt and uncle are still out working. We'll have dinner when they

PM. Still out working? The Boyds were

eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sneer. After all these years, his grandmother had no new tricks. It was

time he 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

we'll wait for them. We'll eat

her lips. As a child, she thought Percival had nothing to him but his looks. Now, he seemed to radiate

not a

devoid of even basic

after, the Boyds started

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,

had never heard of such a thing as a household head or the need to sanitize before entering

and slapped the butler. "You mutt, who do you think you're speaking

Nancy, and