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.

flushed, sheepishly bringing 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 ones instead, hoping you'd like them."

her eyes lingered on Winston's slightly reddened

clear that Winston had spent

a mason jar for the flowers,

down, she noticed Winston biting his lip, seemingly eager

softly asked, "What's

to hurt

in her eyes, "Why would you think that? Did someone say

what happened before at

the harsh words his brother Robbie had once said on

respond directly, not wanting to drag a child

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

an eyebrow, "You

to know what happened.

when mentioning Colin, his fingers nervously

haven't talked much with Colin, but

Vivienne's gaze deepened.

was not her concern, save for

a moment, she nodded, "You can see them whenever you

up,

Declan could unravel the mysteries

baby names while Arthur listened with utmost attention, afraid to

she was taken aback by the unexpectedly "harmonious"

should consider that when naming." Percival

out, "Why make it so complicated? If it's about fire,

looks, both thinking Arthur's suggestion was

Vivienne decided, would be

noticed Vivienne and Winston arriving, beckoning them over with a smile,

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