The Million-Dollar Heart

Teresa wanted to speak up, but catching the stern look on Wendy's face, she bit her tongue.

But she disagreed strongly.

This was 800 billion, not a measly 800 dollars. Sure, she wanted Wendy's hand to heal, to make the Boyd family prosper. However, spending such an astronomical sum on a hand treatment seemed ludicrous. Would that not be better if that money were split between their two families?

"Mom? What do we do now?" Theodore, coming to his senses, looked to Wendy for guidance.

He would have agreed without a second thought if it were a few hundred or a few million.

But 800 billion? He was much less inclined to spend that much on Wendy's hand treatment.

If she recovered, fine. But it would be like throwing money down the drain if she did not. Moreover, treating Wendy's hand was supposed to benefit the Boyds, not drag them down.

Wendy hesitated, too.

This decision was a tough one.

It was then that Eliza hurried in.

As soon as she entered, she checked Wendy's hand and cursed, "That Vivienne is a piece of work. How dare she do this to you? It's despicable."

She had been out handling some business for the Boyds yesterday and was not around. But she got a call from Wendy this morning detailing the situation, and without a second thought, she rushed over. "You're here just in time. There's something I can't decide on my own. I need your opinion," Wendy said, giving Eliza a knowing look.

Eliza paused momentarily before Wendy added, "The Specter Healer claims he can fix my hand and my back, but his price is exorbitant-800 billion. I don't know if I should go through with it."

Eliza was stunned.

So much money for a treatment?

Of course, they could not agree!

But feeling Wendy's expectant gaze, she wavered.

branches of the family were sure to disagree. Her mother was too

said, "Do it! No matter the cost, we should

good health, Eliza's future in the family would be secure. If Wendy's health declined, her greedy in-laws would surely

to help Wendy

the first to protest, "All that money, and you just want to give it away? Do you think money grows on trees? I disagree!" Teresa also voiced her opposition. "I'm all for treating Mom, but

by one, Wendy's grandchildren joined in the

for Theodore and Hayden, who remained silent, the rest quarreled, their faces red

discuss this

that, she led the way to the

later, somehow, Eliza had persuaded everyone. They

Three days later.

family's annual yacht party went

ostensibly for family reunions, but also for networking and consolidating the

recent scandal involving Gillian, the turnout

Sea City's most lucrative projects. Not to mention, they were a powerhouse

discreetly sizing up Gillian as she stayed close

use this event to showcase her talents and overshadow

manipulations had worked; many men were still loyally vying for her attention, even proposing fair

as long as she maintained her status, she would

regain her former glory tonight, she could gloat in front of Vivienne and earn Percival's

determined to redeem herself, marry

friends, who, keen on maintaining ties

was all an

rounds, Percival arrived with Vivienne

envy as she spotted them holding

what I told you? No more scheming after Percival-at least not

you've been drilling it into me for days. You want me to apologize to Vivienne, right? I'll go

had to make that apology

game, and there would undoubtedly be opportunities in the future. Gillian took a deep breath, picked up her

faint smile. "Long time no see." Given that it was an Ashford event, Percival and Vivienne would surely

I've come to apologize to you and Mr. Ellington. I was foolish before. Please forgive my past indiscretions. From now on, I truly view Mr. Ellington as nothing more than