The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 532

Evening had settled when Eliza stepped into Wendy’s room.

“Mom, why are you still up at this hour?” Eliza perched herself beside Wendy, the picture of a dutiful daughter.

Wendy cherished Eliza deeply, having protected her like the apple of her eye since she was a child.

Now, in her current state, she trusted no one more than Eliza.

“Eliza, with me in this condition, I would not put it past my daughters-in-law to have all sorts of ideas. We can’t let them get the better of us, darling. Your brothers are no use either, only seeing dollar signs.”

Eliza nestled close to Wendy, chuckling softly. “Don’t worry, Mom. The Boyds won’t be played by my sisters-in-law. Our family’s assets won’t fall into the wrong hands, not on my watch.”

Wendy nodded in assurance. “I knew I could count on you to ease my worries. Eliza, I’ve taken note of your ambitions all those years and prepared for it. This visit from Percival, it’s so you can get acquainted with the Ellingtons, you understand?”

Relief washed over Eliza with those words.

As long as she could see Nathan Ellington again, she would do anything.

“Yeah, I know you’ve always got my back, Mom.” Eliza leaned on Wendy’s shoulder, briefly catching sight of her amputated hand and quickly averting her gaze with a hint of distaste.

Wendy’s hand was already skeletal, a ghastly sight, and with the stump so starkly exposed, it was downright macabre.

“Mom, what are your plans regarding the Specter Healer?” Eliza inquired.

Wendy scoffed. “He’s just after money, isn’t he? I have plenty, though it might be a bit tricky to come up with 800 billion dollars at once. But, opportunities are not nonexistent.”

Eliza looked at Wendy skeptically.

Plenty of money? What a joke.

As the CFO of Boyd Group, she was all too aware of how much the Boyd family had.

Not to mention 800 billion, even 800 million would require careful consideration.

Where was her mother getting this confidence from?

Noticing Eliza’s doubt, Wendy smiled. “Have you forgotten our ace in the hole?”

“Ace in the hole?” Eliza’s brow furrowed.

Wendy grabbed the remote and switched on the news channel where Patrick's arrest was being broadcast.

Details were scarce, only mentioning Patrick's apprehension. The screen also showed Gillian besieged by reporters.

It dawned on Eliza in an instant.

Wendy was plotting to seize control of the Ashford family’s fortune, turning their empire into her personal treasury.

Indeed, 800 billion was more than feasible with the Ashford family's resources.

“Mom, how can you be so sure Patrick will turn to us for help?” Eliza asked.

Wendy looked smug. “The Ashford family is a hot potato right now. Who would dare get involved? And with Gillian’s reputation in ruins, who would want her? But, just one call from you, inviting her to turn to the Boyds, bringing all Ashford business under our roof, and the money will follow.”

Wendy was exploiting the crisis.

With Patrick in trouble, Gillian, as the sole Ashford heiress, would be desperate for connections to free her father.

But no one was a fool. With the gravity of Patrick’s offenses unclear, who would lend a hand?

Should the Boyds be the only ones to extend help, Gillian would agree to any terms, however reluctant.

Thus securing the Ashford business and unveiling the Boyd family’s clandestine commercial network.

“Alright, I'll make the call right away.” Eliza smiled.

If they could snatch all the Ashford business, it would be about more than just 800 billion dollars.

This operation had to be kept secret from the other Boyds, or they would certainly want a piece of the action.