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

uncles were identical twins, hence the striking resemblance and similar

could not contain their laughter, imitating their sisters-in-law, which earned

as she looked at Carmen and Alice standing side by

were not as emotional as Zelda had been but

“Boss, you’re finally back!”

taken aback. What was going on

and Fredrick exchanged puzzled looks, clueless about the

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

know, your daughter’s incredible, so it’s not weird for her to have a bunch of followers

daughter? One commanded the Nine Mystics Society, while the other had the ladies of the Pendleton and

“You can’t call me boss anymore.

her eyes misting, shook her head, “No, you’ll always be our

agreed, “That’s right. That’s

families had nearly gone bankrupt. If it were not for Karen’s secret support, their

then, Carmen and Alice had suffered much, protected by Karen from

seem destined from

in gaining

Zachary entered, followed by Faye Churchill. Faye

than Charlotte Redwood, avoiding the mishap of knocking

of Faye’s greeting, Luke and Fredrick finally noticed their niece, whom they

over, exclaiming, “Vivienne, let us have a

flee from their

Luke and Fredrick with his cane. “Will you give it a rest? What if

laugh, half-hiding behind Jasper, “Hello, Uncle Luke, Uncle

go! A true beauty, just like

Sasha and I looked like twins. Vivienne is the spitting image of me!”Books Chapters