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.

frowned slightly, then said after a moment, "Vivienne knows what she's

glanced at Sasha

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

now? Mom's not here. Do we still go

saying, "Let's

widened. "And you say you

rolled his eyes. "Who said I've

just said we should get on Mr.

why do you think I want to get on his good side? And why do you think mom suddenly went on

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

"So..."

thought, 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 eerie

looked at his companion, his lips pressed together in

the area shrouded in mist, making it difficult to

entering like

Logan Wood was concerned. Though I

you, my skills are far inferior What if I can't diagnose Mr. Ellington's condition

of Vivienne's most talented students from her time teaching

college entrance exams, Logan had managed to get into Rivenwood University. Although it wasn't as prestigious as

to study finance to take over the family 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 she had no intention of taking on any apprentices. After persistent pleading from Logan, Vivienne finally agreed, taking on two apprentices at once:

the girl he cherished, Faye, was his fellow

had gotten into a

in design

latter was a secret. Ever since Vivienne cured her facial condition, she had aspired

doctor

people heal.

had approached Vivienne, wishing to become her apprentice, but was initially turned down for the same reason: Vivienne wasn't looking to