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.

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

at Sasha but didn't press

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 grandparents in the meantime? I doubt your

do now? Mom's not here. Do we still go ahead with our plan to coax dad

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

Juliette's eyes widened. "And you say

his eyes. "Who said I've betrayed

we should get on

on his good side?

for a moment before her eyes lit up. "I overheard mom talking with Grandpa Finnian yesterday. He's been pretending to go on retreats these past years, but he hasn't actually been. He's

"So..."

finish her thought, Isaiah interjected,

Juliette chuckled, "Right!"

Harbor City. Luck Village.

woman walked along a rugged path,

his lips pressed together in

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

like this,

Logan Wood was concerned. Though I

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

talented students from her time teaching at

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

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

he cherished, Faye,

gotten into a

design and

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

a doctor to help

people heal.

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