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

he was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was

here. Whatever you

eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf,

chuckle at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek. "Indeed,

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

relationship had never been overly warm, but certainly not as strained as it was

any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since

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

turned her gaze to Baron, her stare

she lifted a finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why

sweat breaking out despite

pushed down the fear in his voice, "That's just a liquor cabinet. How could someone be in

you stop with the theatrics? If

back, worried she might provoke

said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting the liquor

comments and

immediately and approached the cabinet,

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

direct question

had no knowledge

who also shook his head in

mostly resides in the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties, they're usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are

they spoke, revealing a hidden

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

except for Baron, who remained as still as a

on a dismantled plank,

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

could

having anything of

when he reached into his pocket, he found

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

weighed the grenade in his hand and tossed it into