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.

sheepishly bringing out the flowers he had hidden, "I wanted to pick lotus flowers from Yorick's pond for you, but there weren't

lingered on Winston's slightly reddened

had spent a good deal of time picking out the perfect

the flowers, placing them

sitting back down, she noticed Winston biting his lip, seemingly eager yet hesitant

"What's on your mind,

his small face tensed, "Is someone trying to

shadow passed in her eyes,

head, "No, it just feels similar to what

asked, remembering the harsh words his

respond directly, not wanting to drag a child into their

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

eyebrow, "You want to

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

mentioning Colin, his fingers nervously

haven't talked much with Colin, but I

Vivienne's gaze deepened.

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

"You can see them whenever

up,

Declan could unravel the mysteries surrounding

chatting with Percival about baby names while Arthur listened

Vivienne approached with Winston, she was taken aback by the unexpectedly "harmonious"

"Finnian did the calculations. The baby will have a fiery temperament. We should consider that when

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

exchanged looks, both thinking Arthur's suggestion was a

decided, would

beckoning them over

glanced at Vivienne

him close, teasing, "Choosing Vivienne over me? You see me every day, but since Vivienne's been busy, you wanted to give her something special?" Winston shook his head, his logic clear