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?"

"We don't have such a tradition in the Boyd

twisting the ring on her finger, and without changing shoes,

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

She wanted to smash it over Vivienne's head but did not dare make a

that even Wendy,

prepared decontamination room to shower and change, ready to cleanse

fragrance of her body wash had muted the unpleasant odor. Wendy approached, her heart aching at seeing her precious carpet, but

of water, saying, "Percival, your aunt

7:30 PM. Still out working? The Boyds

curling into a sneer. After all these years, his grandmother had no new tricks.

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

wait for

his looks. Now, he seemed to radiate a

that little bitch beside him, not

silent, devoid of even basic

the Boyds started to

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

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

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

Nancy, and their