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.

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

Sasha but

upset. Why don't you two visit your grandparents in the meantime? I doubt your mom has told them yet." Juliette and Isaiah

we do now? Mom's

a moment before saying, "Let's try to get on Mr. Boyd's

Juliette's eyes widened. "And you say you haven't

his eyes. "Who said I've betrayed

huffed. "You just said we should

to 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

"So..."

thought, Isaiah interjected, "Mom's gone on

Juliette chuckled, "Right!"

Harbor City. Luck Village.

and a woman walked along a

the man looked at his companion, his lips pressed together in

glanced ahead, the area shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see far. Her expression was calm as she

entering like

Logan Wood was concerned.

What if I can't diagnose Mr. Ellington's condition

Vivienne's most talented students from her time teaching at Rivenwood High, Class

it wasn't as prestigious as some of the top universities, it

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 she had no intention of taking on any apprentices. After persistent pleading from Logan, Vivienne finally agreed, taking on

he cherished,

into

in design and

since Vivienne cured her facial condition, she had aspired

doctor to

people heal.

become her apprentice, but was initially turned down