The Million-Dollar Heart

The group followed Flynn into the house, where he was immediately taken aback at the sight of his niece, Fiona, in a wheelchair.

"Fiona, what happened to you?" Flynn asked, his voice laced with concern.

Richard had been vague when he called Flynn back home, mentioning only that a lot of things had gone south and they needed his help sorting things out. But seeing Fiona like this was a shock to the system.

Flynn had always had a soft spot for his nephews, but Fiona, his only niece, was like a precious gem to him-someone to be protected at all costs.

Fiona gave a weak smile and shook her head. "Uncle Flynn, it's nothing serious. It's just a bit of a heart condition. I can't be on my feet too much."

"How on earth did you end up with a heart problem? What did the doctors say?" Flynn asked urgently.

Heloise let out a disdainful snort. "Why don't you ask the great Master Vivienne about that? She knows exactly what's going on. Don't you, Vivienne?"

Vivienne lifted her gaze coolly, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. "Fiona knows better than I do, doesn't she?"

Fiona pursed her lips, holding Heloise back. "Mom, not everything is Vivienne's fault. Uncle Flynn just got back, and Aunt Imogen is here too. Please, let's not do this now."

Flynn glanced at Vivienne with a hint of reproach but said nothing more.

Imogen, standing close to Flynn, also kept quiet.

Heloise, however, was not so easily silenced. "If I can't even talk about what she did..."

Cecilia, fuming, looked ready to lash out. "You..."

"Enough, Aunt! How has my sister-in-law Vivienne wronged you? Do you really want me to tell Dad everything your family has done and see who ends up embarrassed?"

rebuke stunned everyone-not least because it came

Kenneth was standing up for

he did not know how to face her and had come to believe she was worthy of his brother Percival. Caught up in the moment

a fruitless search, Flynn had intended for one of his brothers

he relied heavily on his third

from the best," Kenneth mumbled, still

and easing the tension brought on by Heloise. Aurelia called everyone to dinner, and Richard, supported by Vivienne and Imogen, made his way to the table. Flynn and Percival trailed behind. "You've

indifferently, "How would you know Vivienne

explained, "Your mom told me. When Imogen found out who Vivienne was, she went nuts wanting

cheekily asking, "Auntie Imogen, how did Uncle catch your eye when he's

miss. You were just gushing over how good-looking I am compared to your brother. Standing next to you, anyone would

didn't see Auntie Imogen yet. She's so young and pretty, like Vivienne. So, compared to

drew laughter, and Flynn could not argue-Imogen really was

adoringly. "She's still in grad school. We met at Magnolia University.” "So, it was love at first sight for

at our school, lots of girls

hand, his voice tender. "Out of all those girls, you were the one I saw. So

floated between them, Richard smiled approvingly. Isolde giggled behind her hand. "So sweet, even sweeter than my brother and Vivienne!" Percival, who

nodded in agreement after swallowing the piece of meat Percival

a smudge of

right," Flynn teased, "you two