The Million-Dollar Heart

Five years later.

At the Rivenwood Public Kindergarten, in the office.

"Snap!"

"I'm at my wit's end, just look at this! How many times has it been?"

The headteacher's face was a palette of frustration, sitting at her desk, eyes blazing with anger.

What on earth had she done in her past life to deserve dealing with these two little reincarnations of mischief?

Leopold glanced at the photo on the desk, his mouth twitching in annoyance, yet he managed to maintain his composure. "Kiera, please, calm down. Have some tea. Whatever the cost, we'll cover it twice over. Kids will be kids, after all. Please be patient with them." Outside the window, two kids in red uniforms were tiptoeing to peek inside, watching Leopold bending over backward to smooth things over.

One whispered to the other, "Sis, think Uncle Leo can smooth things over with Kiera this time?"

Juliette blinked her eyes, a relieved expression on her face, "Uncle Leo's handled this stuff loads of times. Piece of cake. Besides, who else could we possibly call?"

Isaiah, his face betraying a maturity beyond his years, countered, "But what if Uncle Leo goes back and snitches to Mom again?"

At the mention, Juliette's eyes sparkled with mischief, mirroring the look of their mother Vivienne, "I have a plan, guaranteed to keep Uncle Leo from breathing a word of this."

Isaiah, skeptical, moved closer to hear her out but was already doubting the feasibility.

"Are you sure?"

"Remember last time? Uncle Leo tried to cover for you, and mom gave him one look, and he spilled everything. We ended up kneeling at the door for an entire afternoon. Forgot about that?"

If it weren't for grandpa stepping in, sending grandma to plead on their behalf, they'd have been kneeling till midnight, thanks to mom's temper.

Juliette raised an eyebrow, confidence oozing, "This time it's different. Uncle Leo will definitely agree."

Inside the office.

and promises from Leopold, the headteacher finally

this couldn't just

Sterling, you're their guardian. It's your responsibility to educate them, not just lip service,

here. What kind of kids manage to blow a hole

Vivienne meant

holding the

had pegged him as the go-to uncle, avoiding involving Vivienne

was he

since he took the kids to Emerald Mountain, where they accidentally set fire to their master's residence and then turned a library into their coloring book, his fellow disciples had been overly welcoming,

kids for two days while Leopold was sick, vowed never

Leopold swallowed his bitterness, "Don't worry, I'll talk to them. It

window, "Juliette, Isaiah, get in

with anger but kept the speed to a steady 30 mph

scenery, asked, "Uncle Leo, why are we taking a different route? This isn't the way

be left alone

to get

frustration peaked, "Get

you? After the

take you?

your playgrounds. If I

telling Vivienne about this, see if you

Juliette and Isaiah exchanged looks, their eyes welling up, "Uncle Leo, do you not want us anymore?"

"Count

starting preschool, how many

Six! And last month, if I hadn't intervened, you'd have led

alone

the fancy kindergartens in

with no choice but to turn to public schools that were unaware of

face looked up, "They wanted to see the ocean, so we went. It's not like

wit's end, "It's not about being

school just for them or send them back to Vivienne and resign from his role as the