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

the announcement Vivienne was about

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

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

her expression,

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

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

return, she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But

how Vivienne always seemed to look down on them as if she considered herself better

to Baron, her stare

pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel

instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite his

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

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

his sister back, worried she

said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting

the comments and simply

and approached the cabinet,

Percival spoke up, his tone detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5,

direct question took

knowledge of these

Ronald, who also shook his

usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar

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

the cabinet was a solid wall; how could there

crowded around except for Baron, who remained as still as a

dismantled plank, Leopold said,

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

What could that

not recall having anything

he reached into his pocket,

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

grenade in his hand and tossed it into the