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 the day's

the entire day at the lab without leaving. On his way back, I overheard his conversation with

expression wasn't pleasant, hinting at

Juliette

his lab mate to avoid contacting him for the 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

his head, "Unclear, but let's not drop our guard. There's a lot we

but smirk. Vivienne, after all these years, had been nurturing a thorn in her side. He wondered how she'd feel

Floyd's anticipation grew.

darkness engulfed the estate, Floyd was about to

felt

was, Floyd knew better than to open his

half an hour before leaving. Floyd maintained his pose until

inspect the room but lay in

next morning, Floyd's attempt to grab his phone resulted in shattering a glass on the floor, waking him fully. Annoyed, he cleaned up the

overnight setup was

genuine reaction, she regretted acting impulsively. Had she thought it through, she wouldn't have placed the object

with the early mishap but with the continuous probing. It felt like a challenge

"Don't act rashly again. Had he any suspicions, you could've been in danger. Avoid direct confrontations, especially when

to argue but

casually asked, "Up so early?

without missing a beat, "Been sleeping too much, waking up early." "Oh? That's good, I