The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Eliza tucked the document into her purse, glancing at her mother, who was barely coherent in her haze. Other than Wendy, only she knew the true value of that document among the Boyds.

With this, the Ashford and even the mighty Ellington family would be within reach. If only she could decipher the inscription on the family siring, a never-ending stream of wealth would follow.

Nancy and Teresa, those dimwits, believed they had struck gold. Little did they know the Ashfords had stooped to collaborate with the Boyds solely for this document.

Eliza crept back to her room, ensuring the document was well hidden.

Meanwhile, agents from the IRS and other financial institutions burst into the Boyd Mansion. “Who's in charge of Boyd Group?” They demanded.

Theodore and Hayden stood up in unison. “We both are. What's the issue?” “You're under investigation for tax evasion and embezzlement of state assets. You're coming with us!” The sudden turn of events left the Boyds dumbfounded.

Before they had a chance to divvy up their new-found control over the family fortune, they were accused of stealing from the state? Theodore and Hayden were still clueless about their alleged crimes even after they were handcuffed.

Teresa blocked the agents, pleading, “There must be smistake. We've just taken over Boyd Group.” “We're arresting the legal representatives. There's no mistake. Step aside, or we'll take you in for Obstruction of Justice,” an agent said, pushing Teresa away.

Quick to react, Nancy swiftly dragged Eliza out of her room. “You've got the wrong person. She’s the legal representative of Boyd Group!” a Having overheard everything from upstairs, Eliza knew Boyd Group must have been set up. Shoving Nancy away, she retorted, “I don’t have a single share to my name. Didn't you all take them? What's this got to do with me?” Just then, Patrick sauntered in from outside, smirking at the chaos in the Boyd Mansion.

Even the naive Nancy and Teresa realized they had fallen into Patrick's snare.

Racked with regret, they thought that if only they had not been so greedy, Eliza and Wendy would be the ones facing charges, not them.

“Patrick, this is all a misunderstanding. It was Eliza who conned Gillian into signing those contracts. It has nothing to do with us. Please, let them take Eliza instead,” Teresa and Nancy begged.

Patrick ignored them and brushed past them. “One of you tried to blackmailusing my daughter, and the other sent her daughter to infiltrate my family. You think | don’t know your schemes? Instead of begging me, better think about how to save your husbands from prison.” As Theodore and Hayden were taken away, the Boyd Mansion plummeted from paradise to purgatory overnight.

The grandchildren were too preoccupied to care, scrambling for news or securing their own fortunes against their fathers’ downfall.

The Boyd Mansion that was clamorous moments ago was now eerily silent.

Patrick seated on the patriarch’s seat, observing Eliza with her battered face. Her beauty remained, the bruises almost adding a pitiable charm.

“Patrick, I'm relieved you're okay. | wanted to bring Gillian home, but as you see, I'm powerless,” Eliza said, her voice breaking as she edged closer to Patrick.

Patrick did not resist; Eliza had once been the belle of Sea City, only missing her chance to marry into wealth because of Nathan. Now a widow, her allure was that of a mature rose.

Lifting her chin, he caressed her bruised cheek. “Eliza, | remember asking you out when I first moved to Sea City, but you were too busy for me.” At his words, Eliza clung to him. “Patrick, my ex-husband harassedso much; | didn’t even know you soughtout. If | had known, | would never have refused.” She knew the Boyd Group's deals were now in Patrick's hands. To rise again, she needed to charm him and find Vivienne for the siring, and then she could look for Nathan in Rivenwood! Patrick’s eyes narrowed; he tightened his grip, tossing Eliza aside.

In an instant, he seized her throat, his voice venomous. “Eliza, the 800 billion you siphoned from Ashford Group —tto pay back, don’t you think?” Caught off guard by his sudden aggression, Eliza gasped. “I—I don’t know...” “Say that again!” “I'll pay, I'll pay!” Eliza slapped at his hand, desperate for air.

Patrick released her, yanking at her collar. “I hear your family has a secret document needing translation. Is that right?” Eliza was shocked Patrick knew even this but feigned ignorance. “Patrick, ahem, yes, but it's not with me. It's with the Boyd family matriarch.” “The matriarch?” Patrick frowned, contemplating his next move.

He was blissfully unaware of the Boyd family’s storied past, steeped in ancient warrior lineage. Of course, he had no idea who the Boyd family matriarch was.

Eliza nodded, her voice a whisper of intrigue. “Yes, our family, the Boyds, has this heirloom ring. It contains the location of where the secret document is hidden, but right now, it’s in Vivienne’s possession. My mother has been scheming to steal it back for ages, but she’s never managed to lay her hands on it.” Vivienne, again!Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

How in the world did Vivienne get tangled up with the Boyd family’s siring? What a headache! Patrick cursed under his breath, wishing that when her boss died, she had taken Vivienne with her! Patrick eyed Eliza up and down, his tone icy. “You, go fetch that ring and the contract from Vivienne, or else you can pay off that 800 billion debt on your back, and if that’s not enough, you'll sell your organs for me, got it?” Eliza shivered and nodded frantically.

After planting a bug on Eliza, Patrick slipped away from the Boyd Mansion as silently as he had arrived.

Eliza sat on the ground for a long while, her mind racing, until Wendy’s whimpering pulled her back to reality.

Had it not been for the noise, she would have forgotten entirely about Wendy.

Irritated, she walked over, hoisted Wendy off the floor, and placed her in a wheelchair.

Wendy flailed her broken hand in the air, and Eliza leaned down, her eyes narrowed, “Mom, you wantto bring Vivienne back to treat you, don’t you?” Wendy nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at her favorite daughter.

“Fine,” Eliza said with a hollow laugh, slowly adding, “You really think too highly of yourself, don’t you? Still believing you're the powerful CEO you once were? Teresa was right; you are nothing but an old hag who refuses to die.”