The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Finnian suddenly felt as if a lump of blood was stuck in his throat, unable to escape.

"Little troublemakers, you still want to visit my place?"

"Let you guys up there again, and my lawn will be completely stripped bare!"

Finnian cleared his throat gently and said, "And have the nerve to talk? If it wasn't for you, would I be without a place to stay?"

Juliette gave a sheepish smile, "Grandpa Finnian, don't be mad, okay? I'll use my birthday money to fix your house up. Just make them hurry; I want to stay there too!"

Finnian gave her a look, "What's the deal? Your huge house can't accommodate you two?"

Juliette nodded earnestly, "Yes, yes, it can't!"

Then, wiping away imaginary tears, she said with a face full of grievance, "Grandpa Finnian, you have to stand up for us. Someone is trying to woo my mom, and he wants my mom to kick us out. We're so pitiful, soon to be homeless kids!" Finnian, "Do you even listen to yourself?"

"Pitiful?"

"Homeless?"

"You?"

"Does your face turn red when you say these things?"

Finnian coughed lightly, playing along, "What happened? How did you become homeless?"

Hearing this, Juliette burst into tears, "Grandpa Finnian, someone wants to be my new dad. My grandparents, my great-grandparents, they all told my mom to find a new dad, but... my dad is still alive. What happens to my dad if my mom marries someone else?" Juliette managed to squeeze out a few tears, "Grandpa Finnian, you have to help me! If my mom marries this new guy, we'll never have good days again. You'll never see your smart, cute, kind-hearted Juliette again!" Finnian, "......"

"Listen, stop trying to force tears. It's not worth blinding yourself over this before anything even happens with your stepdad!"

"And by the way! Are you sure you understand what smart, cute, and kind-hearted mean? Are we talking about the same person here?"

Seeing Finnian unresponsive, Juliette continued her sob story, "Grandpa Finnian, if you're silent, does that mean you don't want us either? We're so pitiful, nobody wants us! Isaiah, maybe we should just leave; there's no place for us here anymore!" Finnian looked skyward, at a loss for words but quickly grabbed Juliette, who pretended to leave, "Oh, my dear Juliette, if you leave, wouldn't that break Grandpa Finnian's heart?"

Internally, Finnian thought, I wouldn't be sad at all! The farther away these two troublemakers are, the better!

couldn't say that out loud, "Don't worry, I'll talk to your

Yeah, right!

stubbornness is just like Sasha's; convincing her would be

Finnian, you're the

Finnian, "......"

don't. I can't handle

Finnian said to Juliette, "Well, Grandpa Finnian has to go now. Tell your mom I'll come to see her in a

to see my mom now? How will

Kids' tales, you believe

he sighed in relief, "Not today, Grandpa Finnian has some other matters to attend to. I'll come by another day." With that, Finnian stood up to leave, but

my mom wants to be my new dad!" Juliette said,

looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn't

Finnian said, "Since I'm here, might as well

have something else to do?

they didn't question him and followed Finnian towards their

her head and saw Finnian with a playful look, "I thought you were

gave an awkward smile, "Now, why would I avoid anyone, especially not my most

say something to leave him speechless, Finnian quickly looked away and turned

stepped forward, "Hello, I'm Connor! You must be Vivienne's

and smiled, "Seems like you two are quite close, knowing

and Connor exchanged looks

and Connor offered his portion to Finnian, ordering

dashed to the cashier to pay the

haven't seen Vivienne in a while and would like to catch up with

left, Vivienne sent Juliette and Isaiah to the nearby children's play area, then turned to

Finnian shared, "I've uncovered some leads. In Harbor City, there's a place called Luck Village where someone

"But that's all it is, a similarity. I can't find any concrete information about this

he had rarely left his retreat, often telling people he was

Vivienne in

had never