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

was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about

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

the room, finally fixing her gaze on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. "Mr.

could not help but chuckle at her

to? We're all quite busy,

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

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 increasingly

always seemed to look down on them as if she considered

gaze to

behind Baron, "Why

straightened up instantly, cold sweat breaking out

his voice, "That's just a liquor

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

pulled his sister back, worried she

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

and simply looked at

understood immediately and approached

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

question took

knowledge

glanced at Ronald, who also shook his

own other properties, they're usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar to us." Percival smiled. "Of course, you wouldn't know.

liquor cabinet as they spoke, revealing a

the cabinet was a

Baron, who remained as still as

a dismantled plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne,

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

could

did not recall having anything of the

pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

the grenade in his hand and tossed it