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?"

by the man now soaked from

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

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

jumped in

scooping Juliette up

Vivienne, crying, "Mommy, I was scared. It wasn't on purpose..." Connor took the

him, noticing the rash spreading on

his arm, 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

worsening, "That won't do. If it

a doctor, while Arthur suggested using the family's pharmacy for quicker treatment. Connor hesitated,

wonder 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

any private interaction with Connor, pleaded,

reassured her, "Isaiah will stay with you. I'll be

"Can you promise to only get the medicine and not touch Mr. Boyd?" Vivienne paused,

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

skeptical of

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

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

try again, "This was just one of

exasperated, cautioned her to be careful

swallowed hard, thinking back to the way Vivienne had looked

scheme that man was plotting,

if he thinks he can step in as

allergy medication from the pharmacy, Vivienne

immediately after