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.

to disagree. Her mother was too proud to plead. So, Wendy

a long pause, Eliza finally said, "Do it!

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

better to help Wendy

"All that money, and you just want to give it away? Do you

one, Wendy's grandchildren joined in the

Hayden, who remained silent, the

said, "Let's discuss this outside. Don't disturb Mom's

that, she led the way to

later, somehow, Eliza had persuaded everyone. They all

Three days later.

annual yacht party

tradition, ostensibly for family reunions, but also

recent scandal involving Gillian, the turnout was

Ashfords controlled Sea City's most lucrative projects. Not to mention, they were a powerhouse in the whole region of Veridia. Who would

smiles and discreetly sizing up Gillian as

to use this event to showcase her talents and overshadow her past negative

still loyally vying for her attention,

that as long as she maintained her status, she would never

could regain her former glory tonight, she could gloat in front of Vivienne and

determined to redeem herself, marry into wealth, and destroy

friends, who, keen on maintaining ties with the Ashfords, lavished praise on Gillian's supposed

was all an unspoken

the rounds, Percival arrived with Vivienne

with envy as she spotted

I told you? No more

drilling it into me for days. You want me to apologize to Vivienne, right? I'll go right now."

not, she had to make that

and there would undoubtedly be opportunities in the future. Gillian took

faint smile. "Long time no see." Given that it was an Ashford event, Percival and Vivienne would surely not snub her. "What do you want?" Vivienne

forgive my past indiscretions. From now on, I truly view Mr. Ellington as nothing more than a brother and will