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.

with you. He's like that with everyone, just

watched the video

about whether Floyd was willing

them, especially since their mom had assured them Floyd would surely

school was about to end, Floyd showed no signs of moving. Would he actually speak

a moment, but then Floyd looked up,

out, Floyd dropped a note on

signaled an OK to Isaiah, who simply looked down and tapped something on his phone. As the school bell rang,

Juliet and Isaiah to meet Vivienne.

at Percival, as if to say, "Looks like Mr. Wolf lost his temper last

mentioned it to Vivienne, thinking it was trivial, but to his surprise, the

head home and say goodbye to your friends," Vivienne said with a smile to Floyd. "Your nanny is here too; we'll head

the courage to

Vivienne squatted to be eye-level with him,

Floyd said,

sighed, not expecting the boy to understand

Percival, "What about them? If you want to talk, talk. I'm here; he can't

Floyd opened up, "I understand some of

having just promised strangers something

sought confirmation, "You're willing to share this with

why, and his momentary silence filled Vivienne

feeling of mistrust towards Floyd, his image somehow overlapping with that of someone who had once

realized the physical discrepancies. The figure in her memory,

mistrust could develop, their immediate concern was

nanny approached, her face relaxing as she saw Vivienne and