The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The Ellington household was abuzz with anticipation; Richard had been waiting since dawn for Vivienne to return with the kids. The moment he heard the affectionate calls of "Great Grandpa," a genuine smile broke through his aged features.

The devastating blow five years prior had almost broken him, and if it weren't for Vivienne bringing the two children to him, he might not have made it through.

Losing a child was an indescribable pain, yet now, these kids were his pillars of strength.

During dinner, Richard's gaze softened as he looked at Vivienne, words he'd been holding back finally finding their way out. "Vivienne, it's been nearly five years since Percival passed. You're still young, and you shouldn't spend your best years solely with us. If someone suitablees along, you should give it a chance, don't worry about us." Nathan and Cecilia exchanged glances, quietly agreeing with the patriarch. The tragic loss of their son, whose body was recovered from the sea three years after his disappearance, had been a bitter pill to swallow. Despite the undeniable DNA evidence from the hospital, accepting his death was a harsh reality they had to face. But they couldn't, for any reason, ask Vivienne to stay in this limbo. It was unfair to her.

Vivienne paused, realizing the topic had reached the Ellingtons. She put down her utensils and looked up, "Grandpa, Mom, Dad, there's nothing between him andbut friendship. It's not what you think, and there won't be any developments." Cecilia nodded, "Vivienne, we just want you to find happiness again. Percival is gone, and if this man can offer you a stable home, and a father figure for Juliette and Isaiah..." Juliette suddenly interrupted, "I don't want it!" Cecilia, taken aback, asked, "Juliette?" Pouting, Juliette's soft voice was clear, "Grandma, I only have one dad, and his nwas Percival." The table fell silent, the mood shifting.

Isaiah chimed in, "We don't need someone else to be our dad. We already had one." Vivienne's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at her children, assuring them to sit properly before speaking, "Mom, Dad, it doesn't matter if it's been five years or ten, unless I see for myself that he's gone, I won't give up." She held onto the belief that Mr. Wolf, as she affectionately called Percival, wouldn't leave her behind without a word. As long as there was no news from him, she was convinced he was out there, waiting for her to find him.

Isolde, barely holding back her tears, wished for nothing more than her brother's presence. Knowing Vivienne's unwavering dedication to finding clues across countries annually would have deeply moved him.

As Juliette offered a tissue tofort her, Isolde managed a grateful nod.

Richard, moved by the children's words, decided to change the subject, "Let's not talk about this today. It's a tfor family unity.' On their way back to the Linklater household, Juliette probed, "Mommy, are you really not going to accept that man's advances?" Vivienne, sensing her children's aversion to Connor Boyd during dinner, wished to keep them out of these adult concerns. "Juliette, Mr. Boyd is just a friend. Be polite." Unconvinced, Juliette mumbled, "Well, I still don't like him. No one can replace my dad." Back at the Linklater home, Arthur tried to lighten the mood by engaging with the kids, but Juliette's revelation about their grandparents' wishes for Vivienne to move on stirred him. He understood Vivienne's pain, yet the stagnation worried him.

"Your dad has been gone for five years...' || "Grandpa!" Juliette's disbelief was palpable, "Are you also against us?" Arthur found himself defending his position, albeit reluctantly, suggesting Connor might be a good match for Vivienne.

Caught in their conversation, Vivienne intervened, bringing a momentary pause to their discussion.

Outside, a figure approached, carrying an aura of refinement and authority. Connor Boyd, with his distinguished appearance and silver glasses, hade to speak with Vivienne. His arrival stirred mixed feelings in the household, especially in Juliette, who viewed him as a potential threat to her father's memory. en.kikistories As Connor greeted Juliette, trying to break the ice, it was clear the path ahead would be fraught with emotional challenges and the need for healing and acceptance within the Linklater family. en.kikistories "Hmph!" Vivienne approached, her voice low and serious, "Juliette!" Juliette bit her lip, reluctantly lowering her gaze, "Hello, Mr. Boyd!" Connor stepped closer, "Mr. Boyd brought you the toy you like. Wanna check it out?" Juliette turned her head away.

"What if it's something you can experiment with?" Juliette swiftly looked up, sliding off Arthur's lap, "Then I still don't want it. Take it back." Saying so, she grabbed the silent Isaiah and walked away.

She could get anything she wanted from anyone else, just not from him.

Arthur, worried about the kids, followed them.

Vivienne moved forward, advising Connor not to take it to heart, and then signaled a servant to serve tea.

Connor shook his head, indicating his reason for the visit.

He was here to discuss a potential partnership with her.

His family had recently established a firm footing in Rivenwood and was looking to develop sside ventures to support the family's future.

Upon hearing this, Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly, "You should be seeking help from the Perez family for this matter, not me." The Boyd family, an ancient warrior lineage, had emerged suddenly five years ago.