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.

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

glanced at Sasha but didn't

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 grandparents in the meantime? I doubt your

we do now? Mom's

"Let's

you say you haven't

"Who said I've betrayed

should get on Mr. Boyd's

you think I want to get on his good side? And

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

"So..."

could finish her thought, Isaiah

Juliette chuckled, "Right!"

Harbor City. Luck Village.

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

man looked at his companion, his lips pressed together in worry. "Ms. Vivienne, are you sure

shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see far. Her

entering like this,

was

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

most talented students from

it wasn't as prestigious as

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

cherished, Faye,

had gotten into a

in design

Ever since Vivienne cured her facial condition,

doctor to

people heal.

had approached Vivienne, wishing to become her apprentice, but was initially turned down for the same reason: