The Million-Dollar Heart

Watching the two families on the brink of another spat, Wendy tapped impatiently on the floor with her cane. "Marrying you two into the Boyd family has been headache enough. There's no way Gillian is setting foot in our house. You can forget that fantasy right now!"

Nancy's anger subsided a bit at her mother-in-law's words. As long as Mara and Gillian remained tight as thieves, she felt secure that the Ashford fortune would not slip through their fingers.

Teresa, momentarily distracted from her quarrel with Nancy, chimed in anxiously, "Mom, aren't you worried about the Ellingtons sticking their nose in our business?"

"The Ellingtons don't have the guts," Wendy snapped, giving Teresa a sharp look. "Eliza and Patrick have already come to an understanding. No need for you to fret."

With a dismissive wave, Wendy signaled for them to retire to their rooms.

Seeing this, the members of the first and secondary branches of the family had no choice but to leave the room.

It was then that the butler rushed in, his face flushed with panic. "Vivienne and Percival have arrived!"

Wendy raised an eyebrow, her expression darkening. "So they're here. Why the fuss? It's not like they can eat you."

The butler stammered, clearly terrified, "Wolves, wolves!"

"What wolves? You idiot. What's the point of keeping you if you can't even form a proper sentence?" Wendy's expression turned gloomier.

"They've brought a pack of wolves! They let them loose in the courtyard, and they're tearing up your prized rose garden and... and Mr. Theodore's pet beagle... it's been eaten, and now..."

He paused, glancing fearfully at Wendy before continuing with a trembling voice, "Some of them have even jumped through your bedroom window. The servants are hiding everywhere, too scared to come out. The Boyd household's servants were usually bustling about from dawn, not idling in the main hall.

When Vivienne and Percival entered with their pack of wolves, the terror they incited was palpable. One servant had even fainted from fear.

Here?" Wendy gasped in disbelief.

know, Madam!" The butler was near tears, his legs shaking. "What should we do? The doors to the great hall are shut tight; the wolves can't get in there for the moment. But

scream erupted from upstairs, followed

as she ran to Wendy's side, her voice

Mara tightly, her voice laced with panic. "I was in the bathroom when one crashed through the window. I nearly passed out from fear. Mom, we have to do something! They could kill someone!" The

she ordered the butler to call the police. But before he could act, several wolves

she swung her

garments were torn to

and silent, having never anticipated this development. The

red with

dare wrestle with a

back, unable to witness

a frenzy of hide and seek.

Boyd family, from Wendy down to her

him, and he was too scared to help. Wolves encircled the Boyds, drooling as if they were the main course at a feast, and the family was paralyzed with fear, huddled together in their nakedness. Wendy's granddaughters and daughters-in-law sobbed and

to

anything like this. As her children and grandchildren clung to her, shaking her violently, she fainted on the spot. Theodore and Hayden fared slightly better but were still far from composed. They stood rigid, staring at the hungry wolves, their bodies tense with the instinct to

was on the brink of collapse, the front door

and Vivienne stepped

greeted them made Percival's typically composed face twist with disgust. Without a moment's hesitation, he