The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The next day.

"Ah!" A startled cry echoed through the Linklater household.

Isaiah was the first to dash out, only to see Juliette holding a note, looking utterly dumbstruck. "What happened?" he asked. Juliette turned around, handing the note to Isaiah with aplicated expression. "Mom's left us to go on a retreat!" Isaiah, "A retreat?" Juliette was fuming. "Yes! That's exactly what mom wrote. She also told us to get on good terms with Mr. Boyd, to treat him like he's our real dad!" As the words left her mouth, Yorick, Arthur, and Sasha entered the room.

Yorick, anxious, asked, "Juliette, why did you scream so loud? What's happened?" Juliette threw herself into Yorick's arms, "Grandpa, mom doesn't want us anymore. She said she's going on a retreat with no set return date!" Yorick was stunned. He turned to Arthur and Sasha, "Vivienne's gone on a retreat? Did she mention anything to you guys before this?" Arthur was equally perplexed. "She didn't tellanything." He then turned to Sasha, "Did she tell you?" Sasha shook her head. "No." "What's with this sudden retreat, then?" Arthur's expression grew serious. "Could something have happened?" Over the years, he had gradually stepped back from the forefront, letting Vivienne handle most things.

They hadn't inquired much about Vivienne's work or why she would suddenly decide to go on a retreat, whether it was work- related or something else.

Sasha frowned slightly, then said after a moment, "Vivienne knows what she's doing. If she wants to go on a retreat, let her be." Arthur glanced at Sasha but didn't press further.

Hearing this, Yorick turned to Juliette and Isaiah, "Your mom's just gone on a retreat. It won't be long before she's back. Don't be upset. Why don't you two visit your grandparents in the meantime? I doubt your mom has told them yet." Juliette and Isaiah exchanged looks and nodded, "We understand, Grandpa!" After everyone else had left, Juliette turned to Isaiah. "What do we do now? Mom's not here. Do we still go ahead with our plan to coax dad out?" Isaiah thought for a moment before saying, "Let's try to get on Mr. Boyd's good side!" "What?" Juliette's eyes widened. "And you say you haven't betrayed us?" Isaiah rolled his eyes. "Who said I've betrayed anyone?" Juliette huffed. "You just said we should get on Mr. Boyd's good side!" Isaiah, exasperated, "Then why do you think I want to get on his good side? And why do you think mom suddenly went on a retreat?" Juliette tapped her chin, thinking for a moment before her eyes lit up. "I overheard mom talking with Grandpa Finnian yesterday. He's been pretending to go on retreats these past years, but he hasn't actually been. He's been investigating something!" She hadn't heard everything clearly because she didn't want Vivienne to notice her eavesdropping. She only caught bits about not really going on a retreat and investigating something.

"So..." Before Juliette could finish her thought, Isaiah interjected, "Mom's gone on a retreat!" Juliette chuckled, "Right!" Harbor City. Luck Village.

A man and a woman walked along a rugged path, surrounded by an eerie silence.

After sdistance, the man looked at hispanion, his lips pressed together in worry. "Ms. Vivienne, are you sure Mr. Ellington is here?" Vivienne glanced ahead, the area shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see far. Her expression was calm as she nodded, "Yes." Logan was one of Vivienne's most talented students from her tteaching at Rivenwood High, Class Eighteen.

After the college entrance exams, Logan had managed to get into Rivenwood University. Although it wasn't as prestigious as sof the top universities, it was still quite respectable.

He was originally meant to study finance to take over the family business in the future, following his family's wishes. However, he had always been disinterested in finance.

Eventually, he sought out Vivienne privately, wishing to learn medicine from her. Not for anything else but to catch up to the girl he admired, who was also studying medicine.

Initially, Vivienne refused to take him on as an apprentice, not due to a lack of talent on his part but because she had no intention of taking on any apprentices.

After persistent pleading from Logan, Vivienne finally agreed, taking on two apprentices at once: him and Faye Churchill.

Yes, the girl he cherished, Faye, was his fellow apprentice.

Faye had gotten into a top university, majoring in design and medicine, vel.n though the latter was a secret. Ever since Vivienne cured her facial condition, she had aspired to be a doctor to help more people heal. en.kikistories She had approached Vivienne, wishing to be her apprentice, but was initially turned down for the sreason: Vivienne wasn't looking to take on apprentices.

So Faye secretly enrolled in a medical program, hoping to demonstrate her capability to Vivienne. "Thousand-Hands Healer, lacking confidence now?" Vivienne glanced at him with a hint of amusement. Logan touched his nose, smiling sheepishly. "It's not that I lack confidence, just a bit nervous, that's all." Vivienne stayed silent, her eyes fixed ahead, "Here we are!" Logan glanced forward, noticing two men in black suits waiting for them.

He muttered, "What era is this? Who still wears suits like that?" Vivienne shot him a look, "Says the guy in a wizard costume?" Logan, "..." He was just trying to look the part.

Soon, they reached the edge of the village.

The two men approached them, "Thousand-Hands Healer? We've heard a lot about you!" Their smiles were there, but eerily unsettling.

Logan, keeping his cool, said, "Alright! Lead us to the patient!" The men didn't move but looked at Vivienne, "And who might this be?" "My apprentice!" The men exchanged glances, deliberating for a moment before saying, "Sorry, our village has its rules. Uninvited guests can't enter. Healer, you alone will suffice!" Logan's expression darkened, "She's my apprentice. Without her, who's going to assist me?" "We have doctors in our village who can assist as needed!" Logan retorted coldly, "Your doctors can match up to my apprentice? Understand our synergy? You invitebut refuse my apprentice entry; in that case, I can't take this job. Good day!" As Logan turned to leave, the men hastily intervened, "Healer, please, don't be offended. It's just a precaution. Since she's your apprentice, she cane. But once inside, please, no wandering around. The village is littered with traps for wild beasts, and we'd hate for any accidents to happen to you!" en.kikistories