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,

was potent enough to make an elephant scratch incessantly. How

ensuring

jumped

the first to reach them, scooping

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

the rash spreading on his arm,

Juliette, playing it down, "Must be an allergy to something in the water. It's

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

call for a doctor, while Arthur suggested using the family's pharmacy for quicker treatment. Connor hesitated, but after a nod from Vivienne, he

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

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

stay with you. I'll

one last request, "Can you promise to only get the medicine and not touch

explanation, concerned about the contagious nature of Connor's

skeptical of Juliette's

now alone with Juliette, couldn't hide his disbelief, "You said it was

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

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

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

had looked at her earlier. She stubbornly insisted,

man was plotting, she wouldn't let him usurp

on if he thinks he can step in as

from the pharmacy, Vivienne handed it to the butler to

worked immediately after he took