The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 1134

The next day, Vivienne and Percival were on their usual morning drill, dropping their kids off at school. As they pulled into the school's parking lot, each parent took a child by hand and started their short walk to the school entrance. They passed by several students along the way, noticing how their own kids seemed to speed up, heads bowed low in an attempt to avoid attention.

Out of nowhere, a kid approached them, and the atmosphere around Juliette instantly shifted.

The boy clearly noticed them too, his eyes locking on Juliette who was still holding onto the dashing man, Floyd, and scoffed, "Juliette, seriously, hiring actors again? And this time you got someone to play your mom too? Try not to let your vanity get the best of you!" "Shut up, Floyd!" Juliette snapped, taking a step forward only to be scooped up in reassurance.

Percival gently tapped her cheek, "We don't use foul language, young lady."

Juliette puffed her cheeks, glaring at Floyd while Percival crouched down to his level. Despite the smile on his face, it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Actor, you say?"

Floyd frowned, sizing Percival up, "Aren't you just some actor they hired to pretend to be their parent?"

"We are their parents," Percival replied, his tone light yet firm.

"I don't buy it. Parents that never showed up suddenly appear right after Juliette bets with me? Must be fake!" Floyd was adamant, clearly not convinced by Percival's words.

Percival didn't bother to argue further. It seemed ludicrous to him, a grown man, having to prove to a child that these were indeed his kids.

The thought alone was laughable.

He lovingly ruffled Isaiah and Juliette's hair, whispering, "Off you go to school, I'll be here to pick you up after."

and made their way into the school, but not before Juliette shot

Juliette were safely inside, Vivienne and Percival

entrance for a long while before an adult finally

he was okay before letting out a sigh of relief, "My young master, why did you run off

want any gifts," shrugging off the caretaker's hand and heading into the school,

that the kid from earlier?"

glanced over, "Seems like it. You heading

understand about Connor's situation. We need to sort it out to

Connor reminded

The mention of C

of the unresolved threads

have left behind

you there," Percival said, trying to

the lab, Vivienne's phone rang - it was Cordelia Wilson.

a bad time?" Cordelia sounded

"No, what's going on?"

Your sister's back in

who'd been planning to consult Dorian Hawthorn about the runes, agreed, "Sure, let me know a

lab, her focus

seen any of these symbols before?" Percival asked, peering over her shoulder at the experimental

replied, pulling out more documents from a box. "They were clever, probably guessed someone would investigate and made each document mean something different." Their conversation went back to Connor, the elusive piece in their puzzle. Despite being drugged by Brody, he

we're back to square one," Vivienne sighed, her frustration

sense