The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Hayden was about to ask another question when Nancy cut him off.

“Eliza, Mom sure did not waste her affection on you. We're all in awe to think you'd give up your shares so selflessly. Don’t worry, as long as there's bread on our table, there will be a seat for you,” Nancy praised with a hint of insincerity, masking her eagerness for Eliza to relinquish all her shares and get Wendy the medical attention she needed.

To Nancy, it mattered little if Wendy got better or not as long as Eliza did not get her hands on the money.

The second branch had always been treated like the stepchild, overshadowed by the prestigious first branch and Eliza, the darling with Wendy's favor. At least when Cecilia was around, she diverted sattention, but since she stopped visiting, the second branch had beceven more neglected.

Now, with the family matriarch indisposed, Nancy had no intention of letting Hayden dip into the funds. Those were better saved for her own children.

Eliza merely smiled, keenly aware of Nancy's thoughts. But it did not matter. With the control of the Ashford family’s wealth firmly in her grasp, once the Specter Healer cured her mother, and the Boyd family shares were hers, would both branches not have to dance to her tune? After all, her ultimate goal was to use the Boyd and Ashford resources to obtain the Ellington Group.

As the butler wheeled out Wendy, the other Boyds settled on the couches, anxiously awaiting the Specter Healer’s arrival.

Two hours ticked by with no sign of him, causing Theodore to grow impatient. “Eliza, is this guy reliable or what? Did you actually transfer the shares, or did he bail?” “No, that can’t be it,” Eliza frowned, feeling a stir of doubt, too. She had wired an astronomical sum and arranged everything with the Frostfire Intelligence Agency. The Specter Healer had no reason to stand them up.

“Eliza, showthe transfer papers. Don’t tellyou'vgeen conned,” Teresa eyed her suspiciously.

Eliza cleared her throat. “Teresa, the Specter Healer is a man of his word. Perhaps he’s just running late due to sinconvenience of his old age. Don’t worry.” “I just don’t want you to be...” “Enough. You weren't this concerned when. it was tto fork the money. Eliza’s no fool. Everyone zip it.” Wendy.

cut Teresa off mid-sentence.

Just then, the Boyd family’s front door swung open, and the butler rushed to greet the new arrival. A collective sigh of relief filled the room - the Specter Healer had finally come.

But their expressions went from surprise to disappointment when they saw who it was.

“Why are you here?” Eliza asked in astonishment.

Vivienne, arm in arm with Percival, holding a bag, smirked. “Didn't you invite me?” Still fuming over Vivienne's actions aboard the yacht, Mara scowled at her, her bruised face aching even more from the expression.

“Vivienne, don’t flatter yourself. We would not invite you here. You're bad luck. Because of you, my grandma got hurt. Get out!” Mara spat.

Yannick, harboring his own grudge, lashed out too, “Percival, this is the Boyd Mansion. Leave!” Wendy had no patience for them either. “Percival, the Boyds have important matters today. Please leave, and we'll discuss future issues later. I'll have a word with your mother.” Vivienne raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure you wantto go?” Eliza, still wanting to make a good impression on Percival, intervened, “Percival, please take Ms. Hawthorn and leave. Today is really not the best time; we have a distinguished guest. It's not good for you to see us like this.” Percival hugged Vivienne, fingers tracing her silhouette, reluctantly letting go. “Vivienne, it seems like my grandmother doesn’t need the Specter Healer’s services after all,” he said.

The Boyd family members were taken aback and confused.

How did Percival know about the Specter Healer and that he was supposed to treat Wendy tonight? Vivienne’s smile deepened as she placed her bag on the floor and spoke seriously, “You've paid a fortune for my services. No refunds if you refuse treatment.” The Boyds were stunned, and then Huxley piped up. “You're the Specter Healer?” Vivienne nodded, somewhat surprised that the quietest member of the family had caught on so quickly.

A moment of silence followed, then the room erupted in laughter.

“What nonsense are you talking, Vivienne?” Margot was nearly doubled over. “You, the Specter Healer? | suggest you get your head checked. If you're the Specter Healer, then I'm Merlin himself!” Vivienne opened her bag, revealing an array of medical tools. With a simple gesture, Margot started coughing uncontrollably.

“What the... wait, my voice... Oh no, my hair!” At that moment, Margot hardly resembled an ordinary girl; she looked more like a grumpy old man! Vivienne chuckled, “Didn't you say you were Merlin himself? I'm just making your dreams ctrue!” The laughter died quickly in the Boyd household as everyone stared at Vivienne with shock and horror.

Could it be that she was actually the Specter Healer? Eliza hastily grabbed her smartphone and dialed the head of the Frostfire Intelligence Agency. “Hello, | was wondering, has the Specter Healer arrived?” “Yes, her nis Vivienne Hawthorn. You should know her.” The call was on speaker, and the faces of the Boyd family members turned ghostly pale.

Their eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that Vivienne, of all people, was the Specter Healer! How could it be her? Was she not the girl who grew up in that quaint little countryside chapel, dabbling in perfmaking, jewelry design, fashion, and even hacking? With all those skills, how on earth did she master the art of medicine - to a revered and almost mystical extent, no less? How did she manage that? Her unharmed hand trembling with terror, Wendy looked at Vivienne in shock. “How... how could you possibly reattach my hand? Are you trying to kill me?” Vivienne pulled out her medical kit, clearly preparing to reattach Wendy's bones. “I have a code of ethics. After taking your 800 billion dollars, | will, of course, heal your hand.” She was the epitof honor; taking money meant getting the job done.

Wendy was speechless.

“Yeah, right, like I'd believe that!” She thought.

Wendy thought about fleeing, but how could she, confined to her wheelchair? Eliza and the others did not dare to cany closer.

This was Vivienne, the woman who could chop off a hand without flinching. Who would dare to interfere? Vivienne took Wendy's hand, and in just half an hour, it was reattached to her wrist.

“Don’t lift anything heavy for three days, and findin five days to remove the stitches.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Vivienne packed up her tools. Reattaching a hand was too easy.

The 800 billion was well earned.

Eliza swallowed hard. “Are you sure it’s properly done?” Vivienne nodded confidently. “What do you think?” That finally snapped Teresa and the others out of their shock.

“Eliza, where did you get 800 billion dollars? Didn't you say you gave your shares to the Specter Healer?” Percival casually dropped a bombshell, “All of the Ashford family’s assets now belong to the Boyd family, didn’t you know?” Eliza's face went ashen. As she tried to explain, she was cut off by Teresa slapping her to the ground, “Oh, you cunning little thing, acting all generous with money for your mother’s treatment when you were actually swallowing the big fish. Cough up that money, you little siren!” At this point, no one cared that Vivienne had taken 800 billion dollars and had not treated the matriarch’s back.

The focus shifted to Eliza.

Nancy also turned on Wendy, demanding her share. “Everything belongs to your daughter? Why? You greedy old bat, hand over the money now!” In the ensuing struggle, the sound of bones cracking echoed once more.