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.

persuasion and promises from Leopold, the headteacher finally

couldn't

you're their guardian. It's your responsibility to

this continues, I can't keep them here. What kind of kids manage to blow a

what Vivienne

left holding

in Rivenwood had pegged him as the

he to

then turned a library into their coloring book, his fellow disciples had been overly welcoming, suggesting he keep the kids at an arm's

two days while Leopold was sick, vowed never to

incidents, Leopold swallowed his bitterness, "Don't worry, I'll talk

Isaiah, get in here and apologize to

home, Leopold was simmering with anger but kept the speed to a steady 30 mph for the

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

left

persisted, "You're not planning to get rid of

peaked,

you? After

who'd take

your playgrounds. If I brought

"I'm telling Vivienne about this, see

eyes welling up, "Uncle Leo, do you not want us anymore?" "Stop playing

"Count them.

starting preschool, how many

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

alone terrified

incident had made all the fancy kindergartens in Rivenwood wary

to turn

face looked up, "They wanted to see the ocean, so we went. It's

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

saw only two options: fund a private school just for them or send them back to Vivienne and resign from his role as