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.

glancing at Leopold, seeking clues as to what

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

down on them as if she considered herself better than

gaze to

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

sweat breaking out

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

you stop with the theatrics? If there's something to say,

pulled his sister back, worried she might provoke

defuse the tension, "Ashley's

comments and simply

immediately and approached

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

question took Timothy

no knowledge of

who also

moment, Timothy replied, "The Brooks family mostly resides 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,

revealing a hidden

stunned. Behind the cabinet was a solid wall; how could there

except for Baron, who

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said,

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

What could that

recall having anything of the

his pocket, he found

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

in his hand and tossed it