The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Juliette's hand barely grazed the cake box when it was abruptly stopped by another. The unexpected action made both of them instinctively look up.

"Dad? What are you doing?" Juliette asked Percival, puzzled. Was the cake meant for Vivienne?

While she pondered, Vivienne emerged from the kitchen, savoring a slice of strawberry cheesecake, deepening Juliette's confusion.

"Isn't Mom eating it?"

Not just Juliette, even Floyd didn't grasp Percival's sudden intervention.

The aligned gazes turned towards Percival, momentarily embarrassing him. Yet, he composed himself quickly and pointed at the strawberry cheesecake, "Strawberries haven't been very sweet lately. The local bakeries might not use the best ones. If you want some, there's more in the kitchen." Percival's remark made Floyd raise an eyebrow, "Good point. I forgot about that. Better head to the kitchen for it, then."

Floyd stood up, grabbing the strawberry cheesecake, and headed out, soon discarding it.

No sooner had he returned than Isaiah walked in.

Noticing the slightly awkward atmosphere in the living room, Isaiah inquired, "What were you guys up to?"

Juliette briefly explained, and when Isaiah looked at Floyd, he spread his hands in resignation, "My bad for not thinking it through when buying it. But, I've already tossed it."

Isaiah remained silent, his thoughts occupied with the conversation he had overheard before leaving his lab.

After dinner, Floyd greeted everyone, "I'm done for tonight. Need to refine today's report before sending it off. Call me if needed."

The hallway fell silent until Floyd's door was confirmed shut five minutes later. "Ma'am, he's indeed retired to his room," someone reported from upstairs.

Isaiah started discussing

on him. He spent the entire day at the lab without leaving. On his way

wasn't pleasant,

did he say?" Juliette urged

next few days because he wanted to celebrate our birthdays undisturbed. He mentioned though we're not blood-related siblings, we're just as important to him, so he hoped for understanding. If anything urgent, to email him."

"Unclear, but let's not drop our guard. There's a lot we can't immediately understand,

Vivienne, after all these years, had been nurturing a thorn in her side. He

Floyd's anticipation grew.

to open his eyes when he sensed someone in his

felt the person's gaze fixed on

who it was, Floyd knew better than to open

hour before leaving. Floyd maintained his pose until sure of their departure,

room but

to grab his phone resulted in shattering a glass on the floor, waking him fully. Annoyed, he

observing from afar, frowned. Her overnight setup was ruined by

seeing Floyd's genuine reaction, she regretted acting impulsively. Had she thought it through, she wouldn't have

the early mishap but with the continuous probing. It felt like a challenge to his patience and boundaries. Downstairs, Juliette shared the night's

he any suspicions, you could've been in

argue but held back as

up early, he casually asked, "Up

too much, waking up early." "Oh? That's good, I