The Million-Dollar Heart

Kala felt a ripple of anxiety; she certainly did not want the Brooks family to become tabloid fodder again.

It was not about her rising career but the desire to preserve the harmonious unity of the Brooks family from fragmenting into scandal.

Vivienne's gaze dropped slightly before she spoke softly, "There's a bit of an issue."

Kala's heart clenched with worry. "Vivienne, please tell me it's not something to do with Dad..."

Her words stumbled out of her, knotted with nerves.

No, it could not be!

Her father was the epitome of kindness, incapable of harming a soul.

Though she tried to reassure herself, Kala's palms were drenched with sweat from her mounting tension.

"Let's discuss it when he gets back," Vivienne said as she sat down and pulled out her phone to call Timothy, telling him to return home.

Meanwhile, with Cheryl's support, Baron made his way out of his room.

Kala rushed to help Baron down the stairs, her mind racing with apprehension.

She had no clue what would unfold next.

But she was certain that whatever was about to happen would once again turn the Brooks family upside down.

"Vivienne, what's on your mind?" Baron asked, his aged eyes betraying a hint of guilt.

Vivienne smiled faintly. "Let's wait until everyone's here."

Baron did not press further, but his grip on his cane tightened, his hand slick with anxious perspiration.

Soon, Timothy and Ronald returned, and alongside them walked Ashley with her brother Darren and Melissa in tow.

With the Brooks family gathered, silence fell, all eyes on Vivienne and Percival.

glancing at Leopold, seeking clues as to what was

clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to make.

"Vivienne, the family's all here. Whatever you need

her gaze on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems like not

could not help but chuckle at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek. "Indeed,

frowned. "Vivienne, what are you up to? We're all quite busy, and frankly, we don't have time

been overly warm, but certainly not as strained

caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family

seemed to look down on

gaze to Baron,

wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel like

cold sweat

down the fear in his voice, "That's just a liquor cabinet. How could someone be in

ridiculous. "Can you stop with the theatrics?

back, worried

upset," Darren said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting the liquor cabinet can't

the comments and simply looked at

approached the

suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa

question took

knowledge of

at Ronald, who also

resides in the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties, they're usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar to us." Percival smiled. "Of course, you wouldn't know. But Baron, he knows very

revealing a hidden passage. "Vivienne, there's a

members were stunned. Behind the cabinet was a solid wall;

around except for Baron, who remained

a dismantled plank, Leopold said,

Baron and said to Leopold, "You have something quite interesting

could

did not recall having anything

pocket,

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

the grenade in his hand and tossed it into the