The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne staggered out from behind the barrier, her eyes a glaring red that shimmered ominously under the strange sky.

With every step she took forward, it seemed as though she was battling against unseen forces, her movements slow and robotic. Percival was about to rise and meet her when he saw that something was terribly wrong.

She was cradling one child in her arms and carrying another by the hand, both kids were unconscious.

"Vivienne, are you okay?" Percival hastened to her side.

The familiar scent of her immediately enveloped Vivienne. Her bloodshot eyes flickered, and right before losing consciousness, she handed the children to Percival.

As Percival took the kids, Vivienne's eyes rolled back, and she started to collapse.

"Vivienne!" Percival set the kids down quickly and caught Vivienne in his arms.

She slumped into his embrace, unconscious.

At that moment, the two kids slowly cto. Isaiah opened his eyes and tears trickled down his cheeks.

He sat bewildered on the ground, looking at the deserted mountaintop. The memories of Vivienne using her powers to save them flooded his mind, unforgettable.

"Mommy, mommy." Percival looked up, startled by Isaiah's awakening, and then softly said, "Isaiah." Isaiah, gazing at Percival, forgot to cry for a moment.

After a while, it dawned on him, "Daddy!" He ran into Percival's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Percival lifted him with one arm, whispering, "Yes, it's me." It had been five years since he'd left shortly after the child's birth, failing in his duties as a father. The longing had been constant, but seeing his child now, his heart clenched with both pain and love.

Isaiah clung to his neck, and soon Percival felt the cool dampness on his neck.

"Daddy, mommy's going to be okay, right?" Isaiah looked up at Percival, his clear eyes brimming with tears, as if they could fall at any moment.

Nothing had ever made him cry like this before, but now, he was scared.

No matter how composed he usually was, he was still just a kid.

He was terrified something had happened to his mom.

Percival gently patted Isaiah's head, "Of course, mommy's just a bit tired and resting. She'll wake up once she's had enough rest." Isaiah felt a weight lift off his heart and nodded.

Soon, Leopold arrived.

Percival handed the kids to him and carried Vivienne away from the mountaintop first.

Leopold, seeing Percival's urgency, was puzzled, "Isaiah, what happened to your mom? What went down in the barrier just now?" Isaiah, taken aback, didn't answer but bit his lip hard.

Leopold, sensing Isaiah's distress, didn't press further.

He picked up Juliette from the ground and offered Isaiah a hand, "Con, let your godfather take you down the hill!" Isaiah hesitated for a moment but then shook his head, "I can walk by myself." "That won't do. The trail's steep, and if you get hurt, Vivienne would be on my case first thing. Better safe than sorry, lettake you down." His mom had seemed utterly different, devoid of any emotion, unresponsive to his calls, even giving him a strange look.

It was as though she had forgotten everything, including them.

This thought made Isaiah's emotions surge, and Leopold, carrying the two kids, reached the foot of the hill to meet Draven. Just as he was about to set them down, he realized something was off. Content belongs to en.kikistoriesswn The child in his arms, who had been fine moments ago, suddenly started crying! Leopold instantly went on high alert. A child's tears were a matter of grave concern! Draven approached, confused by Leopold's frantic eye signals, "Got something in your eye? What's with the twitching? Are the little lords alright?" As Draven reached for the kids, Leopold looked at him in disbelief. Couldn't he recognize a distress signal? Draven, under Leopold's piercing gaze, extended his hands towards Isaiah, resting on Leopold's shoulder.

Only when his fingers brushed Isaiah's back did Draven realize the situation.

The little lord was crying.

Draven, stiff and awkward, embraced Isaiah, who sobbed intermittently.

"Why didn't you say something earlier!" Draven grumbled under his breath, receiving a comforting look from Leopold.

Leopold spread his hands, "You thought I was having a fit just now? Karma, right?" Ignoring Leopold, Draven awkwardly held the child.

He was unaccustomed to dealing with such situations, his life having been filled with battles and conflicts, never children crying in front of him.

"Isaiah, what's wrong?" Draven managed stiffly.

Isaiah looked up, "Can you taketo see mommy?" He had wanted to wait for his mom to wake up, but his dad had instructed his godfather to take him away first.

He instinctively worried about his mom's condition, uneasy until he could see her awake.

Draven pursed his lips, knowing Percival had specifically asked not to inform the children about Vivienne's condition yet.

After a moment, he said, "Your dad's with your mom, don't worry. How about I take you and the young miss for a check-up first?" Isaiah suddenly burst into tears, his sobs growing louder by the second.

Draven was speechless. "What the..." This was totally unexpected. Isaiah was always the cool, domineering CEO type! How che was now crying uncontrollably? "Ugh!" Leopold couldn't stand it anymore. He handed the baby Juliette over to Draven and gently took Isaiah into his arms.

"Listen up, buddy," Leopold said soothingly as he wiped away Isaiah's tears. "Your mom's got your dad looking after her. Your dad. adores your mom. There's no way he'd let anything bad happen!.ne right?" Content belongs to en.kikistoriesIsaiah nodded, seeming to calm down a bit.

her, Leopold patted his head. "Let's go have a check-up with Juliette. If you're all safe and sound, it'll ease your mom's worries, won't it?" Isaiah, considering this, wiped his tears and suddenly switched back to his cool demeanor. "Let's get that check-up!" Leopold was taken aback. That was a quick turnaround! He had every reason to believe Isaiah was just putting on an act! And he had evidence to prove it!