The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 1078

The moment Augustine and Sebastian hesitantly poked their heads out, Juliette, with the cunning of a fox, lured them over with candy she had prepared in her pocket. Without warning, she squeezed their cheeks, her joy uncontainable, "Oh, so squishy! Augustine, Sebastian, how can you two be so adorable?"

Maddox stood by, laughing as though he had no part in this, while Augustine and Sebastian could only look towards Vivienne for salvation. "Big sis... Big sis." Vivienne squinted her eyes, "Juliette, what do we say?"

Reluctantly letting go, Juliette pouted, "Got it."

Then, she begrudgingly called them, "Little uncles!"

She couldn't wrap her head around it. They were three years younger than her; why should a five-year-old have to call these toddlers her little uncles?

Maddox stepped in to speak on Juliette's behalf, "However she wants to call them is fine. They're just kids; no need for formalities."

Having someone to keep these two little rascals in line was more than he could ask for.

Juliette's eyes sparkled, "Uncle Maddox is the best. I love Uncle Maddox the most."

Maddox's smile widened, "Whatever Juliette likes, Uncle Maddox will get for you."

Juliette's eyes shimmered, "I don't want anything. Can I just play with the little uncles for a bit?"

Augustine and Sebastian, not yet versed in speech, understood the adults' conversation and widened their eyes in anticipation.

They silently waved at their dad for help, but to no avail; he easily "sold" them out.

"Go play, but don't wander too far."

The boys looked towards Isaiah.

Juliette caught on instantly, "He's my brother. Whose side do you think he'd be on?"

opting out of

toddling towards the yard, with Juliette chasing

follow and keep

behind, Vivienne asked, "Uncle,

mom's been handling him these past few days. Grandpa's been quite the handful, getting all cranky. Only Sasha seems to get through to him. Now that he's feeling a bit better, he's refusing his medication." Vivienne pondered for

if remembering something, he said, "By the way, I've

Perez family's information network fallen behind?

speechless, "Uncle Maddox wasn't joking. That man has some connections with the Perez family. If you think he's alright, why not give it a try?

interested," Vivienne

message, "So, it's him

sighed, "Uncle, I'm not thinking about these things right

were vast, and if it weren't for the kids being here, she'd

Wolf's disappearance, she'd taken over

She was

heart had no room for anything else, least

twenty-five.

to spend

Maddox hinted at a

in the sea years ago, though

years, but the truth was laid bare, and denial wasn't

on, regardless of the

rushing me into marriage,

to see you headstrong against a dead end, wearing yourself thin for nothing." She

the kids. Don't overthink, and remember, you can talk to Uncle Maddox

nodded slightly, watching Maddox walk away

grandfather and her mother about taking medicine filled the air, a comforting reminder of normalcy amidst the

a hearty