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?”

stunned everyone—not least because it came from Kenneth, the youngest

taken aback, too. Kenneth was standing up

red at the sudden attention. Ever since he found out Vivienne was Aaron’s coach, he did not know how to face her and had come to believe she was worthy of his brother

in the moment and fed up with Heloise’s relentless attacks on Vivienne, he had blurted out

grown, Kenneth! When I left, you were only this tall. Now look at you, a star

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

his third

the best,” Kenneth

around as a kid, and you still do,” Flynn teased, earning a few chuckles and

Richard, supported by Vivienne and Imogen, made his way to the table. Flynn and

Vivienne is impressive,” Flynn

indifferently, “How would you

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

“Auntie Imogen, how did

You were just gushing over how good-looking I am compared

because I didn’t see Auntie Imogen yet. She’s so young and pretty,

not argue—Imogen really was much

Flynn said, looking at Imogen adoringly. “She’s still in grad

at first sight for

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

the one I saw. So yes, you could say it was love at

sweet sentiments floated between them, Richard smiled approvingly. Isolde giggled behind her hand. “So sweet, even sweeter than my brother and Vivienne!”Books Chapters

who was nonchalantly feeding Vivienne, looked at his sister and stated, “Vivienne and I aren’t like

nodded in agreement after swallowing the piece of

a smudge of grease from Vivienne’s

two are