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.

at Leopold, seeking clues as to what

was about

here. Whatever you

shimmering with feigned

at her expression,

are you up to? We're all quite busy, and

had never been overly warm, but certainly not as strained

caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But

down on them as

gaze to

pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I

sweat breaking

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

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

sister back, worried she might

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

ignored the comments and simply looked

approached the cabinet, dismantling it

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

direct question took

no knowledge of these

who also shook his head

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

dismantled the liquor cabinet as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. "Vivienne, there's a

Behind the cabinet was a solid

Baron, who

a dismantled plank, Leopold

and said to Leopold, "You have something quite interesting in your

What could that

did not recall having anything of

reached into his pocket,

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

grenade in his hand and