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.

at Leopold, seeking clues as

Vivienne was about to

deeply. "Vivienne, the family's all here.

room, finally fixing her gaze on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad

at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek.

We're all quite busy,

Vivienne's relationship had never been overly warm, but certainly not as strained as it

return, she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother, Ashley found her

Vivienne always seemed to look down on them

to

towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel

sweat breaking out

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

stop with the theatrics? If there's something to say, why can't you just

back, worried she

to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting the liquor cabinet can't be

and simply looked

and approached the

Percival spoke up, his tone detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3... Timothy, do any of these addresses ring a

question took

had no knowledge

also shook his

replied, "The Brooks family mostly 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

cabinet as they spoke, revealing a hidden

were stunned. Behind the cabinet was a

around except for Baron, who

plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne, what

she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, "You

could that

not recall having anything of

into his pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

the grenade in his hand