The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Juliet was baffled by the questioning, "Why do you care what my mom does?"

"I didn't mean it like that," Floyd waved his hands, trying to explain himself, "It's just, it's just..."

He wasn't sure if he could really say what was on his mind, especially considering the state he was in. After all, his dad had strictly forbidden him from meddling with or even asking about certain family affairs. If he were to spill the beans to Vivienne, his dad would have a fit.

But to Floyd, Vivienne had been a benefactor. In his eyes, her family's arrival had filled the void of affection that had been missing in his life for years.

He was utterly lost.

Watching Floyd's internal struggle, Juliet's patience was wearing thin, "If you don't want to talk about it, fine. I didn't want to hear it anyway!"

As she brushed past Floyd to leave, she muttered under her breath, "Good thing you didn't mess up those items, or my mom's efforts would have been for nothing."

Floyd caught the murmur, his lips tightening as he watched Juliet walk away, his hand slowly clenching at his side.

Isaiah, hidden in a corner of the hallway, witnessed the entire exchange and sent the video he'd captured to Percival. "Evidence."

Percival's lips twitched upon reading his son's message.

What did that mean? Couldn't he be more explicit?

As he shared this with Vivienne, she couldn't help but chuckle at Percival's complaint.

"Don't forget who his father is. He's just like you. Are you really complaining about yourself now?"

"Me? I've never been like that with you."

Vivienne thought about it and realized it was true; the father and son were indeed cut from the same cloth.

isn't just like that with you. He's like that

the video of Floyd's struggle. As expected, Floyd seemed

Floyd was

them, especially since their mom had assured them

as school was about to end, Floyd showed no signs of moving. Would

fretted for a moment, but then Floyd looked up, their gazes meeting

let out, Floyd dropped

school. She nodded at Floyd and stealthily signaled an OK to Isaiah, who simply looked down and tapped something on his phone. As the

as Floyd followed Juliet and Isaiah to meet

as if to say, "Looks like Mr. Wolf lost

Vivienne, thinking it was trivial,

with a smile to Floyd. "Your nanny is

hesitated but finally gathered the courage to speak,

it?" Vivienne squatted to be

in your study," Floyd

sighed, not expecting the

to talk, talk. I'm here; he can't

by Vivienne, Floyd opened up, "I understand some of it. If

just promised strangers

pleased, still sought confirmation, "You're

was stumped. He hadn't considered why, and his momentary silence filled

off a feeling of mistrust towards Floyd, his image somehow overlapping with that of someone who had once posed a threat to

figure in her memory, though childlike, was taller and differently built than Floyd, possibly someone with

mistrust could develop, their immediate

her face relaxing as she saw Vivienne and the others, "Nice to see you