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!

"Don't worry, I'll talk to your mom. I promise she won't end up finding you a new

Yeah, right!

like Sasha's; convincing her would be

smiled triumphantly, "Grandpa Finnian, you're the best! I love you the

Finnian, "......"

I can't handle

go now. Tell your mom I'll come to see her in a

her head, "Grandpa Finnian, aren't you going to see my mom now? How will you

Kids' tales, you

and seeing her back turned, not paying them any attention, 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 then his eyes caught a man approaching Vivienne's table, and

my mom wants to

taken aback; the man looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn't place where he'd

moment of silence, Finnian said, "Since I'm here, might as well say hello to your

Finnian have something else

question him and

people approaching, lifted her head and saw Finnian with a playful look, "I

"Now, why would I avoid anyone, especially not

quickly looked away and turned his attention to Connor, "And you

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

glanced at him, then back at Vivienne, and smiled, "Seems like you two are

and Connor exchanged looks

brought over their food, and Connor offered his portion to Finnian, ordering another

to the cashier to pay the

you head back first? I haven't seen Vivienne in a while and would

to the nearby children's play area, then turned to Finnian, "Master, what did

uncovered some leads. In Harbor City,

to meet Vivienne's. "But that's all it is, a similarity. I can't

he had rarely left his

aiding Vivienne in her search for

never believed