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?"

because it came from

aback, too. Kenneth

had come to believe she was worthy of his brother Percival. Caught up in the moment and fed up with Heloise's relentless attacks

Kenneth was a child Flynn had found and wanted to reunite with his biological parents. After a fruitless search, Flynn had intended for one of his brothers to adopt Kenneth, but none were willing except his third brother. However, he was too occupied back then and never followed through on the matter. He had thought about sending Kenneth to an orphanage, but with his pleading eyes, the boy had won Flynn over, and

experience with children, so he relied heavily on his third

best," Kenneth mumbled,

do," Flynn teased, earning a few chuckles 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 got

would

"Your mom told me. When Imogen

table, everyone doted on Imogen, with Isolde cheekily asking, "Auntie Imogen, how did Uncle catch

on his food. "Hey, little miss. You were just gushing over how good-looking I am compared to your brother. Standing next to you,

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

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

than me," Flynn said, looking at Imogen adoringly. "She's still in grad school. We met at Magnolia University.” "So, it was love at first sight for Uncle Flynn?"

a lecture at our school, lots of girls were smitten. But I was the one who

those girls, you were the one I saw. So yes, you could

"So sweet, even sweeter than my brother and Vivienne!" Percival, who was nonchalantly feeding Vivienne, looked at his sister and stated,

nodded in agreement after swallowing the piece of meat

smudge of grease from

right," Flynn teased, "you two