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

Vivienne was about to

all here.

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

at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek.

up to? We're all quite busy, and frankly, we don't have time to

had never been overly warm, but certainly

a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her

down on them as if she considered herself

her gaze to

wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel like

up instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite his

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

was being ridiculous. "Can you stop with the theatrics? If there's something

quickly pulled his sister back, worried she might provoke Vivienne

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

ignored the comments and simply looked at

and approached the cabinet, dismantling it

36, South Ridge Community villa

question

knowledge of

who also shook

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 course, you

dismantled the liquor cabinet as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. "Vivienne, there's a secret

were stunned. Behind the cabinet was a solid wall; how could there be a

except for Baron, who remained as still as a

dismantled plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne, what

curved into a sly smile as she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold,

What could

recall having anything of

when he reached into his pocket, he found a brand-new tear gas

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

hand and tossed it