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. "Where

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 they've already made it to the

could finish, a blood-curdling scream erupted from upstairs,

thundered down the stairs. Teresa clutched her daughter Margot close as she ran to Wendy's side, her voice shaking. "Mom, what is happening? Why are there wolves running amok in

when one crashed through the window. I nearly passed out from fear. Mom, we have to do something! They could kill someone!" The younger generation, Mara and Margot, usually at odds, were now

police. But before he

out, pinned to the ground by the wolves. Trapped in her wheelchair, she swung her cane desperately,

torn to ribbons, leaving her

were stunned and silent, having never anticipated this development.

grandsons, red with anger and

dare wrestle with

turned his back, unable to

hide and seek. But they were quickly subdued, their

from Wendy down to her youngest grandchildren,

The great hall was empty save for 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

don't want to die! Grandma,

like this. As her children and grandchildren clung to her, shaking her violently, she fainted on the spot. Theodore and Hayden fared slightly

the Boyd family was on the

and Vivienne

Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed Vivienne, spun