The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne's heart couldn't bear it any longer; she waved at Natalia and Yasmine. "Come over here, sweeties," she said, her voice a soothing lullaby in the tense atmosphere.

Natalia and Yasmine glanced at Zelda, who gave them a reassuring nod. They then scurried over to Vivienne, each grabbing one of her hands, their little faces etched with worry. "Are you really okay, sis?" they asked, their voices barely above a whisper. Vivienne gently patted their hands, assuring them that she was fine and that she probably just had a reaction to some pollen in the air.

Natalia, looking somewhat relieved but still concerned, whispered, "But, you know, Uncle Percival looked really scary earlier, and we got so scared we went to tell mom and dad."

Vivienne chuckled softly, "You did the right thing, loves. But I promise, I'm not sick. No need to worry."

Natalia and Yasmine exchanged glances with each other and then with Percival, seemingly convinced.

When Finnian arrived, a simple exchange of looks with Vivienne told him all he needed to know.

Before he could speak, Jasper barked an order, "You better keep a close eye on her. If anything, and I mean anything, happens to Vivienne, you're going to pay it back with all those treasures you took from me."

Finnian retorted with confidence, "My apprentice is fine. It's your constant worrying that's going to make her sick, not the other way around."

Jasper snorted, hinting at a slip of the tongue Finnian had made the night before, prompting Finnian to quickly change the subject, "Alright, alright, I'll watch her. No need to make a fuss."

Then, Finnian went over, sat down, and gestured for Vivienne to extend her hand. "Let me check your pulse, apprentice," he said, as if it was their little ritual.

After a brief examination, Finnian stood up, addressing the room filled with anxious faces, "See? I told you she's in perfect health. Now, give us some space. You're making the air stuffy with all this worrying." The room breathed a collective sigh of relief, trusting Finnian's judgment due to his close relationship with Vivienne.

Natalia and Yasmine inadvertently blurted out,

our flowers," Yasmine added, her innocence

exchanged a look, realizing

racing with

pressing Finnian for answers, "You said Vivienne was fine. How do

a simple case of feeling unwell, perhaps due to something she ate or a slight cold, trying to deflect from the

assurances dwindled, their hopes and speculations about Vivienne's condition growing

however, insisted, "Vivienne is part of the Ellington

and secrecy, cleared the room, leaving only

intense gaze, decided to take control of the conversation. "Grandpa, what do you want to ask?" Jasper, cutting straight to the point, expressed his concern that Vivienne might have been injured

further, asking if Vivienne's mother knew about her condition. Vivienne, realizing the misunderstanding, decided it was time to come clean. "Grandpa,

moment Vivienne tried to speak, she was silenced by Jasper with a gesture. "Vivienne, here, Grandpa is the boss We'll have Uncle Luke call the doctor over to check

Vivienne was speechless.

she even say

Vivienne, catching Jasper's teary eyes, couldn't help but shoot Mr. Wolf a look. Percival got the message. The morning's scare had been enough

"Grandpa, it's not what you think. Vivienne hasn't

a whirlwind of

Jasper, who was lost in his

was stunned into

Grandpa