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 did

shaking. "What should we do? The doors to the great hall are shut tight; the wolves can't

could finish, a blood-curdling scream erupted from upstairs, followed by a chorus of

down the stairs. Teresa clutched her daughter Margot close as she ran to Wendy's side, her voice shaking. "Mom, what

the bathroom when one crashed through the window. I nearly passed out from fear. Mom, we have to do something! They

butler to call the police. But

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

were torn to ribbons,

and silent, having never anticipated this development. The wolves

with anger and embarrassment, were helpless to

would dare wrestle with a

butler turned his back, unable to witness Wendy's

into a frenzy of hide and seek. But they were quickly subdued, their clothes ripped away by

from Wendy down to her youngest

scared to help. Wolves encircled the Boyds, drooling as if they were

don't want to die! Grandma,

Theodore and Hayden

family was on the brink of collapse, the front door swung

Vivienne stepped

Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed Vivienne,