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.

kept glancing at Leopold, seeking clues as to what

about the announcement Vivienne was about

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

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

at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek. "Indeed, not

frowned. "Vivienne, what are 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

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

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

to Baron, her

she lifted a finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel like

sweat

"That's just a liquor cabinet. How

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

pulled his sister back, worried she might provoke Vivienne

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

and simply looked

immediately and approached

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

direct question

had no knowledge of

also shook his head in

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

cabinet as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. "Vivienne, there's

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

around except for Baron, who remained as

dismantled plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne,

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

could that

not recall having anything of the

when he reached into his pocket, he found a

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

weighed the grenade in his hand