The Million-Dollar Heart

Wendy froze, disbelief etched across her face as Eliza's words sank in.

With a swift motion, Eliza grabbed a decorative pillow from the couch and pressed it against Wendy's face.

As she bore down with all her might, Eliza hissed, "Just so you know, every single present you've ever received was bought by Cecilia. I was merely the delivery girl. And every mistake? That was all me. But Cecilia, with her hapless, tender heart, took the fall every time. Before you kicked her out for the last time, she left you a sum of money. Guess what? I pocketed that with a laugh.

Mom, so why don't you just go ahead and die? Once you're gone, I'll have the perfect excuse to worm into the Ellington family's graces to get close to Nathan. Cecilia's a soft touch; she'll surely take me in, right?

Your existence is nothing but a burden to me. Better you're dead so that I can squeeze out one last benefit. Don't worry, I'll get the Boyd family's signet ring and raise our name from the ashes." Wendy struggled briefly beneath the pillow but soon fell still.

She had died at the hands of the daughter she had cherished all her life.

Eliza let out a slow breath, dragged Wendy's body into the bedroom, and staged the scene to look like an accidental death.

Then, pulling out her phone, she dialed Vivienne.

Meanwhile, Vivienne answered the call, her gaze still fixed on the computer screen, which displayed Eliza's malicious face. "Ms. Hawthorn, it's Eliza," the voice on the line said.

Vivienne reclined against the sofa, lazily stretching her legs onto the coffee table. "Mrs. Watson, something I can do for you?"

Eliza despised the way Vivienne called her by her name. If only she had married Nathan back then, Vivienne would have to respectfully address her as "Mom."

She was a hundred times better than Cecilia, yet Nathan only had eyes for that fool!

Eliza had been simmering with resentment for years, dreaming of the day she would replace Cecilia and become Nathan's wife.

Eliza steadied her voice, "Ms. Hawthorn, I know you've got beef with the Boyds, but karma's caught up with them now. I'm calling you today because there's something else." Vivienne chuckled. "So, what's up?"

Eliza continued, "The authorities have just taken in my brothers, and my mom... She passed away

"Is Percival with you? Can he let Cecilia

her knees, Eliza put on a performance worthy of an award, yelling,

a smirk tugging at his lips at

mother had such acting skills when she was caught eating spicy snacks while pregnant with Isolde, she would not have

that, he hung up, tired of the

tone echoed, and a flicker of resentment crossed her eyes. They did not want to

Wendy was Cecilia's mother!

had to make Cecilia come to the funeral; only then could she see Nathan. If Percival would not pass the message, she would send it

text on her phone with the funeral notice from Eliza. Tapping a few times, she replied in Cecilia's voice, ensuring Eliza she would

began to prepare for

day of the funeral, notables from Sea City gathered alongside the Boyds' extended family. Despite their current

over two decades and wondered how he had aged. Knowing him, he would have only

yearned to see but saw none. Instead, Vivienne and Percival, clad in striking red, stepped out of

crowd murmured. It was Percival's grandmother's funeral; how could they be

was not upset. In fact, she was smug. The more outrageous Vivienne and Percival acted, the better for her. And her immediate goal was to reclaim the Boyd family's signet ring and

attend the funeral, which meant Nathan

One funeral, two birds.

Eliza advanced, offering a bouquet. "Percival, pay respects to

Vivienne made a token gesture. It was plain to see their hearts were not

funeral,

was your grandmother," someone in the crowd admonished, a hint of disbelief