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?"

now soaked from head to toe, instinctively shook

impossible! Her upgraded itching powder was potent enough to make an elephant scratch incessantly. How

was for him to toss her into the pond, ensuring that her mother witnessed

jumped

the first to reach them, scooping Juliette up with

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

rash spreading on his arm, "Are you

something in the water. It's nothing serious, I'll just

If it weren't for you, who knows what might have happened

a doctor, while Arthur suggested using the family's pharmacy for quicker

but wonder if she had inadvertently given someone a chance to get closer to her mom. That wasn't her intention at all! Inside the

private interaction with Connor, pleaded, "Mommy, can you

stay with you. I'll

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

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

skeptical of Juliette's

alone with Juliette, couldn't hide his disbelief,

was equally puzzled. She had noticed the rash on Connor before he even entered the water, a clear sign her itching powder had worked. Yet, he hadn't exposed her

one of many inventions. He

to be careful not to let

the way Vivienne had

was plotting, she

he can

pharmacy, Vivienne handed it to the butler to deliver

after he