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.

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 second floor. Any

a blood-curdling scream erupted from upstairs,

clutched her daughter Margot close as she ran to Wendy's side, her voice shaking. "Mom,

the window. I nearly passed out from fear. Mom, we have to do something!

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

her cane desperately, but the more she fought, the more

her garments were torn to ribbons,

stunned and silent, having never anticipated this development. The wolves were

sons and grandsons, red with anger and embarrassment, were helpless to intervene

would dare wrestle with a

turned his back, unable to

a frenzy of hide and seek. But they

of the Boyd family, from Wendy down to her youngest grandchildren, was

trembling, unable to leave, as the servants had scattered in fear. The great hall was empty save for him, and he was too scared to help. Wolves encircled the Boyds, drooling as

don't want to die!

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

on the brink of collapse, the

and Vivienne stepped

hesitation, he grabbed Vivienne, spun her around, and walked right back out, his hand swiftly covering her