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

Sebastian, seeing no reason to wait, started toddling towards the yard, with Juliette chasing after them, "You think

signaled for someone to follow and keep an eye on

Vivienne asked, "Uncle, how's grandpa

past few days. Grandpa's been quite the handful, getting all cranky. Only Sasha seems to get through to him. Now

if remembering something, he said, "By the

replied, "Really, has the Perez family's information network fallen behind? That news should've reached the Perez family by

the Perez family. If you think he's alright, why not give it a try? Knowing

not interested," Vivienne

underlying message,

not thinking about these things

and if it weren't for the

Mr. Wolf's disappearance, she'd taken over his affairs both domestically and

for Mr. Wolf. She was pouring all her resources into the search, clinging to

heart had no room for anything else, least of

only twenty-five. Are

spend your

hinted at a deeper concern,

ago, though Vivienne refused to

was tiptoed around for five years, but the truth was laid bare, and denial wasn't changing

regardless

you rushing

loss for words, simply expressed his concern, "Uncle just doesn't want to see you headstrong against a dead end, wearing yourself thin

the kids. Don't overthink, and

watching Maddox walk away

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

gave a hearty nod