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.

same page.

gave him a glance, her

Vivienne's father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has

they'll lock us up?"

glared at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

continued, "The authorities won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do

"That would

past her cousins to Vivienne, asked,

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

by Willa, she immediately said, "I've already said I

Maddox, she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one thing. If my

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

sighed, "Because she's

heard her mother speak of her deep feelings

made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in her

family exchanged

out of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually have to accept this guy as

glare was warning enough. "Try

no, I never said

consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge

long

She was

her, yet her involvement in this discussion spoke

tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain

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

turned

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

response to Jasper's

"Alright, let's leave the