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.

He's like that with everyone,

Vivienne hung up and watched the video of Floyd's struggle. As expected, Floyd seemed

Floyd was

hoping Floyd would approach them, especially since their mom had assured them Floyd would surely talk

end, Floyd showed no signs of moving. Would he actually

then Floyd looked up, their gazes

before school let out, Floyd dropped

it, she saw the message asking her to wait after school. She nodded at Floyd and stealthily signaled an OK to Isaiah, who simply looked down and tapped something on his phone. As the school bell rang, Vivienne received

afar as Floyd followed Juliet and Isaiah

to say, "Looks like

trivial, but to his surprise, the boy seemed

a smile to Floyd. "Your nanny is here too; we'll head

courage to

Vivienne squatted to be

in your study," Floyd

the boy to

them? If you want to talk, talk. I'm

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

taken aback by his own offer, having just promised

"You're willing

why, and his

his image somehow overlapping with that of someone who had once posed a

realized the physical discrepancies. The figure in her memory, though childlike, was taller and differently built than

any further mistrust could develop, their immediate concern was the Field family's

doing here?" The nanny approached, her face relaxing as she saw Vivienne and