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

simply shrugged; he was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about

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

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

at her expression, playfully pinching her

frowned. "Vivienne, what are you up to? We're all quite busy,

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

coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother, Ashley

on them as if she considered

to Baron,

pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do

straightened up instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite his

voice, "That's just a liquor cabinet. How could someone

with the theatrics? If there's something

back,

chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting the liquor cabinet

the comments and simply looked at

understood immediately and approached the cabinet, dismantling

detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community

direct question took

knowledge of these

also shook

Even if we own other properties, they're usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar

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

the cabinet was a solid wall; how could there

around except for Baron, who

plank, Leopold said,

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

could that

not recall having anything of

into his pocket, he

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

his hand and tossed it into the