The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 1076

Over the weekend, Connor had just arrived when Isaiah received a message to discreetly send Vivienne away.

As Juliette entered the foyer, she spotted a figure standing there, casting a long shadow towards her. Approaching the man, she tugged gently at his sleeve and softly asked, "Mr. Boyd, could you do me a favor?" Connor crouched down, amused by Juliette's rare "warm" approach, a smile playing on his lips. "What do you need?"

With her eyes sparkling, Juliette pointed towards the backyard, "I want to give Mommy the flower in the middle of the pond. Can you carry me there? I can't reach it by myself."

Connor glanced at the distance, then back at Juliette. "You wait here; I'll fetch it for you."

"No!"

"The flower has to be picked by me to be meaningful for Mommy."

Juliette blocked his way, her face serious. If he went alone to fetch it, it would ruin her entire plan.

Without another word, Connor bent down, lifted her in his arms, and walked towards the backyard.

Upon reaching the center of the pond, Juliette, now thrilled at the sight of the flower, leaned forward, stretching her tiny fingers towards it. Her other hand sneakily sprinkled some "special powder" around the man's neck. Suddenly, Connor felt something was amiss.

Losing his balance for a moment, Juliette seized the opportunity to tumble towards the water.

Just before breaking free from his grip, she yelled towards Isaiah's direction, "Ah, Mommy, help!"

Hearing her, Vivienne rushed over, followed closely by Arthur and Yorick.

To their shock, they saw a figure in the pond tossing Juliette safely to the shore before plunging into the water himself.

As Connor emerged, dripping wet, his first concern was Juliette. "Did you get hurt anywhere?"

soaked from head to

upgraded itching powder was potent enough to make

toss her into the pond, ensuring that her

jumped

to reach them, scooping Juliette up with a

discovered and still shaken from the scare, clung to Vivienne, crying, "Mommy, I was scared. It wasn't on

rash spreading on

then at Juliette, playing it down, "Must be an allergy to something in the water. It's nothing serious, I'll just need some medication." "I'll leave you

condition worsening, "That won't do. If it weren't for you, who knows what might have

instructed the butler to fetch new clothes and call for a doctor, while Arthur suggested using the

mom. That wasn't her intention

interaction with Connor, pleaded, "Mommy, can you not

"Isaiah will stay with

her go, making one last request, "Can you promise to only get the medicine and not touch Mr. Boyd?" Vivienne paused, her

"volunteered" an explanation, concerned about the contagious nature of Connor's rash,

left, skeptical of

hide his

the water, a clear sign her itching powder had worked.

"This was just one of many inventions. He

exasperated, cautioned her to be careful not to let their mother find

swallowed hard, thinking back to the way Vivienne had looked at her earlier. She stubbornly insisted, "No

matter what scheme that man was plotting, she wouldn't let him

he thinks he can step in as Isaiah's

pharmacy, Vivienne handed it to the

immediately after he took