The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Outside the quaint suburban house, Natalia and Yasmine tapped softly on the door before poking their heads inside.

“Grandpa, Uncle Luke, and Uncle Fredrick are here, and they’re in the backyard bawling their eyes out.”

“They’re wailing so pitifully. I swear Auntie Karen’s about to be hugged to death! Oh, and they keep asking for Vivienne.”

Vivienne rubbed her neck, contemplating how overwhelming family affection could sometimes feel like asphyxiation!

As they stepped out of the study, they were greeted by a chorus of sobs that could rival any opera.

Through his tears, Luke cried, “Oh, Sasha, my little Sasha, look how you’ve grown! I’ve been waiting for you to come home!”

Fredrick joined in, his voice choked with emotion, “Sasha, oh Sasha! I can finally lay eyes on you again. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you! You were so small when you left, and I haven’t slept well since!”

Karen had one brother clinging to each arm, her face a mask of resignation as she glanced helplessly at Maddox and Yuri.

“Guys, a little help here?”

Maddox feigned ignorance. “I don’t see anything!”

Yuri chimed in, “Hang in there, Sasha. I’m powerless here!”

“Luke, Fredrick, I get it, you’re emotional. But we’ve got guests. Maybe stand up for now?” Karen suggested, patting their shoulders.

Luke and Fredrick shook their heads in unison. “No way. It’s been years since I’ve seen my little sis. I can’t just walk away.”

“Exactly, let me have a good look at you. You’re finally back.”

Karen was torn between exasperation and amusement, then reassured them, “I’m not going anywhere again, guys. You can see me whenever you want from now on!”

Luke’s wife, Carmen Pendleton, finally intervened, “Luke, enough is enough, move it!”

Fredrick’s wife, Alice Churchill, though gentle, had a firmness to her words. “Fredrick, come on, get up, will you? If you don’t, I might just twist your arm off.”

brothers cleared the way, leaving room

Vivienne realized her uncles were identical twins, hence

their laughter, imitating their sisters-in-law,

Carmen and Alice standing side by side, shocked

as Zelda had been but still

“Boss, you’re finally back!”

aback. What

Fredrick exchanged puzzled looks, clueless

whisper, Jasper asked Vivienne, “Are your aunts, like,

so it’s not weird for her to have a

gaze to Vivienne. What sort of enigmas were this mother and daughter? One commanded the Nine Mystics Society, while the other had the ladies of the Pendleton and Churchill families calling

her sisters-in-law to their feet, Karen said, “You can’t call me boss anymore. I should be calling you my

her eyes misting, shook her head, “No, you’ll

That’s not going

nearly gone bankrupt. If it were not for Karen’s secret support, their current status in high society would not have been possible,

had suffered much, protected by Karen

bonds seem destined from the

helping the Churchill and Pendleton families would result in gaining two sisters-in-law or that her daughter would become deeply connected with both

Churchill. Faye

much more composure than Charlotte Redwood, avoiding the mishap

finally noticed their niece, whom

“Vivienne, let us have

flee from

blocked Luke and Fredrick with his cane. “Will you

help but laugh, half-hiding behind Jasper,

there you go! A true beauty, just

twins. Vivienne is the