The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 1074

The Ellington household was abuzz with anticipation; Richard had been waiting since dawn for Vivienne to return with the kids. The moment he heard the affectionate calls of "Great Grandpa," a genuine smile broke through his aged features.

The devastating blow five years prior had almost broken him, and if it weren't for Vivienne bringing the two children to him, he might not have made it through.

Losing a child was an indescribable pain, yet now, these kids were his pillars of strength.

During dinner, Richard's gaze softened as he looked at Vivienne, words he'd been holding back finally finding their way out. "Vivienne, it's been nearly five years since Percival passed. You're still young, and you shouldn't spend your best years solely with us. If someone suitable comes along, you should give it a chance, don't worry about us."

Nathan and Cecilia exchanged glances, quietly agreeing with the patriarch. The tragic loss of their son, whose body was recovered from the sea three years after his disappearance, had been a bitter pill to swallow. Despite the undeniable DNA evidence from the hospital, accepting his death was a harsh reality they had to face. But they couldn't, for any reason, ask Vivienne to stay in this limbo. It was unfair to her.

Vivienne paused, realizing the topic had reached the Ellingtons. She put down her utensils and looked up, "Grandpa, Mom, Dad, there's nothing between him and me but friendship. It's not what you think, and there won't be any developments."

Cecilia nodded, "Vivienne, we just want you to find happiness again. Percival is gone, and if this man can offer you a stable home, and a father figure for Juliette and Isaiah..."

Juliette suddenly interrupted, "I don't want it!"

Cecilia, taken aback, asked, "Juliette?"

Pouting, Juliette's soft voice was clear, "Grandma, I only have one dad, and his name was Percival."

The table fell silent, the mood shifting.

Isaiah chimed in, "We don't need someone else to be our dad. We already had one."

Vivienne's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at her children, assuring them to sit properly before speaking, "Mom, Dad, it doesn't matter if it's been five years or ten, unless I see for myself that he's gone, I won't give up."

She held onto the belief that Mr. Wolf, as she affectionately called Percival, wouldn't leave her behind without a word. As long as there was no news from him, she was convinced he was out there, waiting for her to find him.

Isolde, barely holding back her tears, wished for nothing more than her brother's presence. Knowing Vivienne's unwavering dedication to finding clues across countries annually would have deeply moved him.

As Juliette offered a tissue to comfort her, Isolde managed a grateful nod.

Richard, moved by the children's words, decided to change the subject, "Let's not talk about this today. It's a time for family unity."

On their way back to the Linklater household, Juliette probed, "Mommy, are you really not going to accept that man's advances?"

Vivienne, sensing her children's aversion to Connor Boyd during dinner, wished to keep them out of these adult concerns. "Juliette, Mr. Boyd is just a friend. Be polite."

Unconvinced, Juliette mumbled, "Well, I still don't like him. No one can replace my dad."

Back at the Linklater home, Arthur tried to lighten the mood by engaging with the kids, but Juliette's revelation about their grandparents' wishes for Vivienne to move on stirred him. He understood Vivienne's pain, yet the stagnation worried him.

"Your dad has been gone for five years..."

"Grandpa!" Juliette's disbelief was palpable, "Are you also against us?"