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?"

least because it came from Kenneth, the youngest

was taken aback, too. Kenneth was standing up for

how to face her and had come to believe she was worthy of his brother Percival. Caught up in the moment and fed up with Heloise's relentless attacks on Vivienne, he had blurted out his

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

heavily on his third brother's family. Over time, Kenneth had become more their child than

best,"

Heloise. Aurelia called everyone to dinner, and Richard, supported by Vivienne and Imogen, made his way to

replied indifferently, "How would you

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

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

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

because I didn't see Auntie Imogen yet. She's so young and pretty,

could not argue-Imogen

younger than me," Flynn said, looking at Imogen adoringly. "She's still in grad school. We met at Magnolia

our school, lots of girls were

of all those girls, you were the one I saw. So

them, Richard smiled approvingly. Isolde giggled behind her hand. "So sweet, even sweeter than my brother and Vivienne!" Percival, who was nonchalantly feeding Vivienne, looked at his sister and

swallowing the piece

a smudge of grease from

two are just the