The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The group followed Flynn into the house, where he was immediately taken aback at the sight of his niece, Fiona, in a wheelchair.

“Fiona, what happened to you?” Flynn asked, his voice laced with concern.

Richard had been vague when he called Flynn back home, mentioning only that a lot of things had gone south and they needed his help sorting things out. But seeing Fiona like this was a shock to the system.

Flynn had always had a soft spot for his nephews, but Fiona, his only niece, was like a precious gem to him—someone to be protected at all costs.

Fiona gave a weak smile and shook her head. “Uncle Flynn, it’s nothing serious. It’s just a bit of a heart condition. I can’t be on my feet too much.”

“How on earth did you end up with a heart problem? What did the doctors say?” Flynn asked urgently.

Heloise let out a disdainful snort. “Why don’t you ask the great Master Vivienne about that? She knows exactly what’s going on. Don’t you, Vivienne?”

Vivienne lifted her gaze coolly, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. “Fiona knows better than I do, doesn’t she?”

Fiona pursed her lips, holding Heloise back. “Mom, not everything is Vivienne’s fault. Uncle Flynn just got back, and Aunt Imogen is here too. Please, let’s not do this now.”

Flynn glanced at Vivienne with a hint of reproach but said nothing more.

Imogen, standing close to Flynn, also kept quiet.

Heloise, however, was not so easily silenced. “If I can’t even talk about what she did…”

Cecilia, fuming, looked ready to lash out. “You…”

“Enough, Aunt! How has my sister-in-law Vivienne wronged you? Do you really want me to tell Dad everything your family has done and see who ends up embarrassed?”

everyone—not least because it came from Kenneth, the

was taken aback, too. Kenneth was standing up for

did not know how to face her and had come to believe she was worthy of

with Heloise’s relentless attacks on Vivienne, he

awkward silence, ruffling Kenneth’s hair with a laugh. “Look how much you’ve grown, Kenneth! When I left, you were only

to adopt Kenneth, but none were willing except his third brother. However, he was too occupied back then and never followed through on the matter. He had thought about sending Kenneth to an orphanage, but with

had no experience with children, so he relied heavily on his third brother’s family. Over time, Kenneth had

best,” Kenneth

your brother around as a kid, and you still do,” Flynn teased,

dinner, and Richard, supported by Vivienne and Imogen,

taste, kid. Vivienne is impressive,” Flynn said, nodding towards

replied indifferently, “How would you know Vivienne is

glanced back and explained, “Your mom told me. When Imogen found out who Vivienne was, she

dinner table, everyone doted on Imogen, with Isolde cheekily asking, “Auntie Imogen, how did Uncle catch your eye when he’s so much

miss. You were just gushing over how good-looking I am compared to your

didn’t see Auntie Imogen yet. She’s so young and

could not argue—Imogen really

only twenty-five, fifteen years younger than me,” Flynn said, looking at Imogen adoringly. “She’s still in grad school. We met at Magnolia

first sight for Uncle Flynn?” Isolde looked

our school, lots of girls were smitten. But I was the one who fell for him

voice tender. “Out of all those girls, you were the one I saw. So yes, you

sweeter than my brother and Vivienne!”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join &

at his sister

nodded in agreement after swallowing the piece of

wiped a smudge of grease

“you two are just the