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.

Leopold, seeking clues

simply shrugged; he was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was

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

on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting?

not help but chuckle at her expression, playfully

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

warm, but certainly not as

But ever since Vivienne aired

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

her gaze to Baron, her stare

the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I

instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite

just a liquor cabinet. How could someone

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

quickly pulled his sister back, worried she might provoke Vivienne

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

and

understood immediately and approached

but Percival spoke up, his tone detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17,

question took

knowledge

at Ronald, who also shook his

we own other properties, they're usually nearby. The

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

the cabinet was a solid

Baron, who remained as still

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne, what

a sly smile as she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, "You have something quite interesting

could that

recall having

reached into his pocket, he found a

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

grenade in his hand and tossed it into