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.

snapped his fingers. "Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it, but I said no. We're

gave him a glance, her expression

"Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he

they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled

at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want

"That

past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst

she immediately said, "I've already said

wrong about one thing. If

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

she's

mother speak of her deep feelings for

Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

family exchanged

we

warning enough.

no, I never said we'd accept

Jasper looked meaningfully

not long acquainted,

his granddaughter well. She was not one

her, yet her involvement in this

soft heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain

on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough

turned to

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

to Jasper's observation, simply

Jasper didn't press further. "Alright, let's