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.

were 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,

on Winston's slightly

had spent a good deal of time

mason jar for the flowers, placing

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

asked, "What's

tensed, "Is someone trying to hurt me again? Is that why you picked me up from

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

his head, "No, it just feels similar to what happened before at home. It's about my

asked, remembering the harsh words his brother Robbie

wanting to drag a child

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

"You

his voice barely above a whisper, "I just want to know what happened. Everything changed so suddenly at home. And my siblings, they've changed too, except for

paused when mentioning Colin,

but I think he's not

Vivienne's gaze deepened.

was not her concern, save for

a moment, she nodded, "You can

lit up,

Declan could unravel

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

Winston, she was taken aback

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

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

Vivienne exchanged looks, both thinking

Vivienne decided, would be her

and Winston arriving, beckoning them over with a

at Vivienne before

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