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

this couldn't

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

kids manage to blow a

understood what Vivienne meant by her

he was left holding the bag with these

pegged him as the go-to uncle, avoiding involving

he to

library into their coloring book,

taking care of the kids for two days while Leopold was sick, vowed never

worry,

the window, "Juliette, Isaiah,

to

the change in scenery, asked, "Uncle Leo, why are we taking a different route? This

be left alone with

"You're not planning to get rid

frustration peaked,

you? After

who'd take

I brought you home, there'd be nothing

"I'm telling Vivienne about this, see if you

and Isaiah exchanged looks, their eyes welling up, "Uncle Leo, do you not want us anymore?" "Stop playing the victim. If

"Count them.

starting preschool, how many

if I hadn't intervened, you'd have led a whole kinder-garden on a wild goose chase. The principal called

thought alone

the fancy kindergartens

choice but to turn

see the ocean, so we went. It's not like we

his wit's end, "It's not about being lost. You're only five. What if something

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