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 to toe, instinctively shook her

upgraded itching powder was potent enough

to toss her into the pond, ensuring that her mother witnessed the entire

he jumped in

reach them, scooping Juliette up with a frown.

her plan had been 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 himself without

the rash spreading on

the water. It's nothing serious, I'll just need some medication." "I'll leave you

Connor's condition worsening, "That won't do. If it

using the family's pharmacy for quicker treatment. Connor hesitated, but after a nod from Vivienne, he agreed to

help but wonder if she had inadvertently given someone a chance to get closer to her mom. That wasn't her

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

reassured her, "Isaiah will stay

last request, "Can you promise to only get the medicine and

contagious nature of Connor's rash, recalling her grandfather Finnian's advice on such

left, skeptical

couldn't hide his disbelief, "You

noticed the rash on Connor before he even entered the water,

try again, "This was just one of many inventions.

cautioned her to be careful not to let

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

scheme that man was plotting, she

thinks he can step in as Isaiah's new

from the pharmacy, Vivienne handed it to the

after he took