The Million-Dollar Heart

Maddox's eyes lit up the moment he saw Willa returning home.

He hurried over to her, barely containing his excitement. "Willa, you're back?"

He was so close that his warm breath tickled her face, stirring something unfamiliar within her.

She coughed lightly, pushing him away with a finger. "Back off! You reek of sweat!"

"Huh?" Maddox sniffed himself. "Do I? But I just showered this morning!"

The summer heat made sweating inevitable, prompting him to adopt a twice-daily shower routine.

Willa, uninterested in engaging further, walked straight to Jasper. "Dad, I'm home."

Jasper nodded. "Good to have you back. Sit down. We were just discussing whether Vivienne should acknowledge her father. You should weigh in!"

Willa had barely approached her chair when she paused, confused. "Vivienne's father?"

"Yes," Yuri chimed in. "Today, Vivienne's biological father showed up. DNA tests confirm it's Arthur. He's planning to marry Sasha and wants to officially recognize Vivienne."

As soon as Yuri finished, Willa's expression darkened. "No way!"

Vivienne sent Willa a smile of admiration.

Jasper and the others were taken aback but soon Jasper said, "We were leaning towards refusal too, but after thinking it over, he is Vivienne's father, after all. It seems wrong not to acknowledge him."

Willa scoffed. "Some father! Where was he all this time? Now he decides to show up like he's picking out a bargain at a flea market!"

Willa was known for her aloofness, rarely swearing.

Her outburst left the Perez family speechless for a moment.

Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were

him a glance, her expression

claim over Vivienne sparked a debate. "Arthur is Vivienne's father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities

they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled his

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you

admitted, "That

Vivienne,

and dealings with the

she immediately said, "I've already said I won't acknowledge

she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one thing. If my mom wakes up,

she?" Maddox was

she's

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though

it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but

family exchanged looks

of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually

glare was warning enough.

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never said

consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully

long acquainted,

well. She was not one to indulge

no interest to her, yet her

down, she knew

her and Karen,

conversation turned

might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa,

press further. "Alright, let's