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

glanced at Sasha

Juliette and Isaiah, "Your mom's just gone on a retreat. It won't be long before she's back. Don't be upset. Why don't you two visit your

left, Juliette turned to Isaiah. "What do we do now? Mom's not here.

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

"And you say you haven't

his eyes. "Who said

"You just said we should get on

on his good side? And

been pretending to go on 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 really going on a

"So..."

could finish her thought, Isaiah interjected, "Mom's gone on a

Juliette chuckled, "Right!"

Harbor City. Luck Village.

woman walked along a

companion, his lips pressed together in worry. "Ms. Vivienne, are you sure Mr. Ellington

in mist, making it difficult to see far. Her expression was calm as

like this,

Logan Wood was concerned. Though

What if I can't diagnose Mr. Ellington's condition and we get exposed? Can we still get

talented students from her

Although it wasn't as prestigious as some of

for anything else but to catch up to the girl he admired, who was also studying medicine. Initially, Vivienne refused

he cherished, Faye,

had gotten into a top

in design

was a secret. Ever since Vivienne cured her facial

a doctor to

people heal.

was initially turned down for the same reason: Vivienne wasn't looking to take