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

about the announcement Vivienne was about to make.

"Vivienne, the family's all here. Whatever

with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems like not

could not help but chuckle at her

quite busy, and frankly, we don't

been overly warm, but certainly not as strained

But ever since Vivienne aired

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

her gaze to Baron, her stare

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

straightened up instantly, cold sweat breaking out

"That's just a liquor cabinet. How could someone be in

theatrics? If there's

sister back, worried

nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting the liquor cabinet can't be hiding someone, that's

ignored the comments and

approached the

Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3... Timothy, do any of these addresses ring a

direct question

knowledge of these

who also

properties, they're usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar to us."

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

Brooks family members were stunned. Behind the cabinet was a solid wall; how could there be

who remained as still as a

a dismantled plank, Leopold said,

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

could that

recall having anything of

reached into his pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

hand and tossed it into