The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Hearing that, Vivienne's lips curled into a smirk, revealing a hint of meaningful amusement.

Finnian glanced at Vivienne and sighed, "Vivienne, I don't mean to rain on your parade, but Luck Village is no ordinary town. It's a nest of huge conspiracies. Someone likecouldn't even get close to it. If you go there with your crew, I'm afraid you'll stir up trouble." Vivienne lifted her gaze slightly, "Master, you're overestimating me. I'm a law-abiding citizen. How could I possibly engage in illegal activities?" Finnian, "..." You? A law-abiding citizen? Ha! Vivienne: Am I not? Finnian: Sure, sure. I wonder who blew up the Davis family's mansion with a bomb a couple of years ago.

Vivienne: ...

Finnian took a sip of his coffee, getting back to the point, "I heard from Juliette that you're planning to marry Connor. Are you really ready to sacrifice everything for love?" Vivienne, "...Don't listen to her nonsense!" Finnian, "It doesn't seem like nonsense to me. Have you been neglecting the kids too much lately, letting their imaginations run wild? You should pay more attention to them in your free time. And don't forget about my precious grandkids just for that rascal Percival. Don't say I didn't warn you. If those kids end up depressed, I'm taking a few old buddies and we're going to paint the town red!" Vivienne, "... You should go back." Finnian, "What's the matter? Just finished a job for you and now you're turning your back on me?" Vivienne glanced over Finnian's shoulder, "I'm afraid you won't be able to leave now!" Turning around, Finnian met Dawson's astonished gaze.

Seeing Finnian, Dawson paused, then asked, "Master, weren't you in seclusion up in the mountains? What are you doing here?" Finnian, "..." He slowly stood up and said earnestly, "Young man, you've got the wrong person. I'm not your master!" Dawson, "??" Before Dawson could respond, Finnian vanished into thin air.

Dawson, "..." He had every reason to believe they were being played by their master.

Dawson had intended to chase after Finnian, but he knew he couldn't catch up with his master's abilities.

Unless Vivienne took action! But judging by Vivienne's demeanor...

It was clear she had been in cahoots with their master just now.

They definitely had secrets! Dawson pulled up a chair opposite Vivienne, looking wronged, "Vivienne, what secrets are you and Master hiding from us?" Vivienne took a sip of water, "No secrets." Dawson looked unconvinced, "Do you believe that?" Vivienne seriously, "Yes." Dawson, "...What were you two really discussing that we can't know?" He found it strange. For years, their master was always in seclusion! Seclusion that lasted months, without a trace to be found.

He always wondered why their Emerald Monastery had been off the grid for so many years, and yet their master seemed more driven than ever.

Turns out, their master wasn't in seclusion at all but plotting with Vivienne! Vivienne put down her glass, glanced at the outside weather, and told Dawson, "It's getting cooler. I'm going into seclusion too." Dawson, || Vivienne, are you even listening to yourself? Getting cooler? The sun's blazing enough to fry us! As Dawson was about to retort, Vivienne got up, called Juliette and Isaiah, and left.

In the car, Juliette and Isaiah sat silently in the back.

After a while, Juliette whispered to Isaiah, "Why did Grandpa Finnian leave? Wasn't he supposed to convince Mom? Did he even try?" Isaiah looked up seriously, "Probably not." Juliette huffed, "Had I known he'd be this unreliable, I would've set his sleeping quarters on fire too!" Isaiah glanced at her, "You better think about how you're going to explain this to Mom." Juliette paused, "What do you mean?" Isaiah's gaze hinted towards Vivienne, who was driving. Juliette looked and saw Vivienne watching her through the rearview mirror.

That look Isent shivers down el.n Juliette's spine, and she chuckled nervously, "Mom, you look beautiful today!" Content belongs to en.kikistoriesIsaiah, "..." || Vivienne, "..." Vivienne glanced at her, saying calmly, "Next tyou have something to say, cdirectly to me. No need to beat around the bush." Juliette and Isaiah exchanged looks, cautiously asking, "Can we really say anything?" "Yes." Juliette bit her lip, then said, "Mom, are you really going to marry Mr.

Boyd and leave Dad? Please don't marry Mr. Boyd. We don't like him and don't want him as a dad. We have a dad, and he's not gone!" Content belongs to en.kikistoriesQUMS Before Vivienne could respond, Juliette quickly added, "Can you please not marry Mr. Boyd?" Vivienne's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she slowly said, "Juliette, Isaiah, do you trust Mom?" Both kids nodded, "We do!" "That's all that matters. Nothing else is important," Vivienne's words were ambiguous, leaving the kids puzzled.

Juliette wanted to ask more, but Isaiah shook his head at her.

She reluctantly stayed silent.

Back at the Linklater residence, Juliette pulled Isaiah into her room, asking urgently, "What did Mom mean by that? Is she still going to marry Mr. Boyd?" Isaiah furrowed his brows, a serious expression plastered on his face. "It must be!" "What do we do now?" Juliette was on the verge of tears. "Do we really have to call him 'dad'?" "He can never be our dad!" Isaiah declared with unwavering certainty.

"But mom's already decided to marry him. Who else could change her mind?" Juliette pondered aloud.

"If it's mom's decision, we respect it." Isaiah paused thoughtfully before continuing.

Juliette looked at him, surprised. "Did you just switch sides that quickly?" Isaiah rolled his eyes at her. "Have you forgotten what mom said? She asked us to trust her! I believe mom wouldn't just abandon dad. She has her reasons for marrying Mr. Boyd, and those reasons e connected to dad." Content belongs to en.kikistoriesUMS Juliette's eyes sparkled with hope. "So, dad really cback?" Isaiah nodded. "We didn't see wrong that day. It must be dad. I don't know why he's choosing to stay hidden, but I plan to force him into the open!" "Tellyour plan!" Juliette's interest was instantly piqued.