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.

knows what she's doing. If she wants to go

at Sasha

on a retreat. It won't be long before she's back. Don't be upset. Why don't you two visit your grandparents in the meantime? I doubt your mom

"What do we do now? Mom's not here. Do we still go ahead

saying, "Let's try

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

eyes. "Who said

we should get on

on his good side? And why do you think

with Grandpa Finnian yesterday. He's 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

"So..."

Isaiah interjected, "Mom's gone on

Juliette chuckled, "Right!"

Harbor City. Luck Village.

man and a woman walked along a rugged path, surrounded by an

his lips pressed together in worry. "Ms. Vivienne, are you

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

like

was concerned. Though

skills are far inferior What if I can't diagnose Mr. Ellington's condition and we get

students from

had managed to get into Rivenwood University. Although it wasn't as prestigious as some of the top universities, it was still quite

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

the girl he cherished,

had gotten into a top

in design and

latter was a secret. Ever since Vivienne cured her facial

doctor to

people heal.

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