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.

kept glancing at Leopold, seeking clues as

was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to make. After

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

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

at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek. "Indeed, not

quite busy, and frankly,

warm, but certainly not as strained as it was with

for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother, Ashley found her

always seemed to look down on them as if she considered herself better than

turned her gaze to Baron, her stare

pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I

sweat

fear in his voice, "That's just a liquor cabinet. How

thought Vivienne was being ridiculous. "Can you stop with the theatrics? If there's something to say, why can't

pulled his sister back, worried she

to defuse the tension, "Ashley's

the comments and simply looked at

understood immediately and approached the cabinet,

apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3... Timothy, do any of these addresses

question took Timothy

knowledge of these

at Ronald, who also shook his head in

the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties, they're usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar to us." Percival smiled. "Of course, you wouldn't know. But Baron, he knows very

as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. "Vivienne, there's a secret tunnel

cabinet was a solid wall; how could

around except for Baron, who remained as

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said, "Vivienne,

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

could that

recall having anything

when he reached into his pocket, he found

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

weighed the grenade in his hand and tossed it into the