The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Arthur had that "I told you so" look on his face. "See, I knew you'd ask about this, so I went ahead and bought them all. This way, whether it's a boy or a girl, they can wear the clothes their grandpa got them right away." Vivienne pursed her lips, unable to give the clothes another glance, "Nice choices, but let's not do this again."

Arthur was visibly upset now, "Oh, come on! I'm the baby's grandpa. I want to see them wearing what I picked out. It'll be adorable."

Vivienne glanced over the two big boxes of trendy baby clothes, a twitch forming at the corner of her mouth, "The baby won't be wearing these at birth."

Arthur was taken aback, "Then what should they wear?"

Is there a whole science to baby clothes I'm missing?

Vivienne couldn't bother to explain further, her patience wearing thin, "Don't worry about it, Mr. Wolf is on it."

Arthur choked on his words.

He knew it. That kid was always stealing his thunder.

Noticing Arthur's silence, Vivienne looked out the window, "Dad, where's Winston? Didn't you pick him up? Why haven't I seen him around?"

Arthur paused, then remembered, "He should be in the backyard. He was asking about you just now..."

Before Arthur could finish, Vivienne was already on her way to the backyard.

She hadn't walked far when she spotted a small figure crouched on the grass, busily picking little flowers. She approached and called out, "Winston."

Hearing her, Winston turned around swiftly, his face lighting up, "You're here!"

Vivienne nodded.

But she also noticed the flowers he tried to hide behind his back, deciding not to mention it.

Instead, she just ruffled his hair, "It's chilly out here, let's go inside."

Once inside, Vivienne poured a cup of hot chocolate and handed it over.

out the flowers he had hidden, "I wanted to pick lotus flowers from Yorick's pond for you, but there weren't any. So, I got these little

on Winston's slightly

air outside wasn't that cold, making it clear that Winston had spent a good deal of time picking out

jar for the flowers,

sitting back down, she noticed Winston biting his lip, seemingly

asked, "What's on your mind,

trying to

unchanged, though a shadow passed in her eyes, "Why would you think

what happened before at home.

asked, remembering the harsh words his brother Robbie had

respond directly, not wanting to drag a child into their

pleaded, "Did grandpa do something bad? Do you know where he is? I want

"You want to see

just want to know what happened. Everything changed so suddenly at home. And my siblings,

when mentioning Colin,

Colin, but I think

Vivienne's gaze deepened.

not her concern, save for Winston's safety. Yet,

she nodded, "You can see

lit up, "Really?

Declan could unravel the

the living room, Sasha was chatting with Percival about baby names while Arthur listened with utmost attention, afraid to

Vivienne approached with Winston, she was taken aback

the calculations. The baby will have a fiery temperament. We should consider that

every word, blurted out, "Why make it so complicated? If it's about fire, just call them Blaze. Works for a boy or a girl, sounds

and Vivienne exchanged looks, both thinking

would be

Vivienne and Winston arriving, beckoning them over with a

glanced at Vivienne before

been busy, you wanted to give her something special?" Winston shook