The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The next day.

"Ah!"

A startled cry echoed through the Linklater household.

Isaiah was the first to dash out, only to see Juliette holding a note, looking utterly dumbstruck. "What happened?" he asked.

Juliette turned around, handing the note to Isaiah with a complicated expression. "Mom's left us to go on a retreat!"

Isaiah, "A retreat?"

Juliette was fuming. "Yes! That's exactly what mom wrote. She also told us to get on good terms with Mr. Boyd, to treat him like he's our real dad!"

As the words left her mouth, Yorick, Arthur, and Sasha entered the room.

Yorick, anxious, asked, "Juliette, why did you scream so loud? What's happened?"

Juliette threw herself into Yorick's arms, "Grandpa, mom doesn't want us anymore. She said she's going on a retreat with no set return date!"

Yorick was stunned. He turned to Arthur and Sasha, "Vivienne's gone on a retreat? Did she mention anything to you guys before this?"

Arthur was equally perplexed. "She didn't tell me anything."

He then turned to Sasha, "Did she tell you?"

Sasha shook her head. "No."

"What's with this sudden retreat, then?" Arthur's expression grew serious. "Could something have happened?"

Over the years, he had gradually stepped back from the forefront, letting Vivienne handle most things.

They hadn't inquired much about Vivienne's work or why she would suddenly decide to go on a retreat, whether it was work-related or something else.

"Vivienne knows what she's doing. If she wants to go on a retreat, let

glanced at Sasha

upset. Why don't you

now? Mom's not here. Do we

for a moment before saying, "Let's try to get on

widened. "And you say you haven't

rolled his eyes. "Who said

"You just said we should get

on his good side? And why do you think mom suddenly went

retreats these past years, but he hasn't actually been. He's been investigating something!" She hadn't heard everything clearly because she didn't want Vivienne to notice her eavesdropping. She only caught bits about not

"So..."

could finish her thought, Isaiah interjected,

Juliette chuckled, "Right!"

Harbor City. Luck Village.

and a woman walked along a rugged

pressed

it difficult to

entering like

Wood was

diagnose Mr. Ellington's condition and we get

one of Vivienne's most talented students from her time teaching

to get into Rivenwood University. Although it wasn't as prestigious as some

business in the future, following his family's wishes. However, he had always been disinterested in finance. Eventually, he sought out Vivienne privately, wishing to learn medicine from her. Not for anything else but to catch up to the girl he admired, who was also studying medicine. Initially, Vivienne refused to take him on as an apprentice, not due to a lack of talent on his part but because

cherished, Faye, was

had gotten into a top

in design

since Vivienne cured her

a doctor

people heal.

Vivienne, wishing to become her apprentice, but was initially turned down