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.

seeking clues as to

the announcement Vivienne was about to make. After all,

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

with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems

her expression, playfully

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

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

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

seemed to look down on them as if she

to Baron, her

finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel like there's someone

straightened up instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite

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

"Can you stop with the theatrics? If there's something to

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

ignored the comments and simply

understood immediately and approached the cabinet, dismantling

detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community

direct question took

knowledge

Ronald, who also shook his head in

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

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

family members were stunned. Behind the cabinet was a solid

for Baron, who remained as still as a

plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne,

Baron and said to Leopold, "You have

What could that

having anything of

into his pocket,

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

the grenade in his hand and tossed