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?"

aback by the man now soaked from head

upgraded itching powder was potent enough to make an elephant scratch incessantly. How did he

was for him to toss her into the pond, ensuring that her mother witnessed the entire scene, leaving no room for

jumped in

the first to reach them, scooping Juliette up with a

to Vivienne, crying, "Mommy, I was scared. It wasn't on purpose..." Connor took the blame onto himself without hesitation. "It was

at him, noticing the rash spreading on his arm, "Are

allergy to something in the water. It's

intervened upon seeing Connor's condition worsening, "That won't do. If it weren't for

the family's pharmacy

if she had inadvertently given someone a chance to get closer to her mom. That wasn't her intention at all! Inside the house, after changing Juliette into dry clothes,

not wanting her mom to have any private interaction with Connor, pleaded, "Mommy, can you

stay with you. I'll be back

the medicine and not touch Mr. Boyd?" Vivienne paused, her eyes narrowing. Was

could respond, Juliette "volunteered" an explanation, concerned about the contagious nature of Connor's rash, recalling her grandfather Finnian's advice on

left, skeptical of Juliette's

alone with Juliette, couldn't hide

was equally puzzled. She had noticed the rash on Connor before he even entered the water, a clear sign her itching powder had

vowed to try again, "This was just one of

to be careful not to let their

swallowed hard, thinking back to the way Vivienne had looked at her earlier. She stubbornly

man was plotting, she wouldn't

on if he thinks he can

the pharmacy, Vivienne handed it to the butler

immediately after he took