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

was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to make. After all, he

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

feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems like not everyone's present,

at her expression, playfully

quite busy, and frankly, we don't have time

been overly warm, but certainly not as

return, she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne

on them as if she considered

her gaze to Baron, her stare

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

straightened up instantly, cold sweat breaking out

"That's just a liquor

stop with the theatrics? If there's something

pulled his sister back,

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

and simply looked at

understood immediately and approached the cabinet, dismantling it

attempted to intervene, but Percival spoke up, his tone detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5,

direct question took Timothy

no knowledge of

also

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

revealing a hidden passage.

members were stunned. Behind the cabinet was

crowded around except for Baron, who remained as

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne,

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

What could

having anything of the

when he reached into his pocket, he found a

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

weighed the grenade in his hand and tossed it into