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.

get better, but the first and secondary branches of the family were sure to disagree. Her mother was too proud to plead. So, Wendy turned to her

pause, Eliza finally said, "Do it! No matter the cost, we should do the

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

better to

of your mind?" Nancy was 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 that's just too

one by one, Wendy's

for Theodore and Hayden, who remained silent, the rest quarreled,

said, "Let's discuss this

the way

an hour later, somehow, Eliza had persuaded everyone. They all

Three days later.

yacht party

ostensibly for family reunions, but also

recent scandal involving Gillian, the turnout

mention, they were a

and discreetly sizing up Gillian as

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

men were still loyally vying for her

her status,

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

redeem herself, marry into wealth,

mingled with Gillian among old friends, who, keen on maintaining ties

all an unspoken

Percival arrived with Vivienne

envy as she spotted them holding hands

warned in a low voice, "Remember what I told you? No more

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

reluctant or not, she had to make

future. Gillian took

"Long time no see." Given that it was an Ashford event, Percival and

my past indiscretions. From now on, I truly view Mr. Ellington as nothing more than a brother and will harbor no inappropriate thoughts. I won't intrude upon