The Million-Dollar Heart

Arthur had that "I told you so" look on his face. "See, I knew you'd ask about this, so I went ahead and bought them all. This way, whether it's a boy or a girl, they can wear the clothes their grandpa got them right away." Vivienne pursed her lips, unable to give the clothes another glance, "Nice choices, but let's not do this again."

Arthur was visibly upset now, "Oh, come on! I'm the baby's grandpa. I want to see them wearing what I picked out. It'll be adorable."

Vivienne glanced over the two big boxes of trendy baby clothes, a twitch forming at the corner of her mouth, "The baby won't be wearing these at birth."

Arthur was taken aback, "Then what should they wear?"

Is there a whole science to baby clothes I'm missing?

Vivienne couldn't bother to explain further, her patience wearing thin, "Don't worry about it, Mr. Wolf is on it."

Arthur choked on his words.

He knew it. That kid was always stealing his thunder.

Noticing Arthur's silence, Vivienne looked out the window, "Dad, where's Winston? Didn't you pick him up? Why haven't I seen him around?"

Arthur paused, then remembered, "He should be in the backyard. He was asking about you just now..."

Before Arthur could finish, Vivienne was already on her way to the backyard.

She hadn't walked far when she spotted a small figure crouched on the grass, busily picking little flowers. She approached and called out, "Winston."

Hearing her, Winston turned around swiftly, his face lighting up, "You're here!"

Vivienne nodded.

But she also noticed the flowers he tried to hide behind his back, deciding not to mention it.

Instead, she just ruffled his hair, "It's chilly out here, let's go inside."

Once inside, Vivienne poured a cup of hot chocolate and handed it over.

had hidden, "I wanted to pick lotus flowers from Yorick's pond for you, but there weren't any. So, I got these little ones instead, hoping you'd

her eyes lingered on Winston's slightly reddened

had

mason jar for the flowers, placing them prominently on the

she noticed Winston biting his lip, seemingly eager yet hesitant to

asked, "What's on

name, Winston hesitated, his small face tensed, "Is someone trying to hurt me again? Is that

in her eyes, "Why would you think that? Did someone say something to

his head, "No, it just feels similar to what happened before at home.

harsh words his

directly, not wanting to drag

bad? Do you know

eyebrow, "You want

voice barely above a whisper, "I just want to know what happened. Everything changed so suddenly at

Colin, his fingers nervously

but I think he's not a bad

Vivienne's gaze deepened.

her concern, save for

nodded, "You can

face lit up, "Really? Thank

Declan could unravel the

baby names while Arthur listened with utmost attention, afraid to miss a

Vivienne approached with Winston, she was

We should consider that when naming." Percival

make it so complicated? If it's about fire, just call them Blaze. Works for a

exchanged looks, both thinking Arthur's