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.

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

gave him a

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 find out he has a daughter he hasn't acknowledged, they won't just let

don't acknowledge him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled his

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering

"That would

Vivienne,

caught up in court hearings and dealings

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

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

was puzzled. After

she's blindly in

of her deep feelings

Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as

exchanged looks of

asked, "So what now? Do we actually have to accept this guy

glare was warning enough. "Try it and

no, I never

reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You

not long acquainted,

granddaughter well. She was not one to

of no interest to her, yet

tough exterior. Deep down, she

the battlefield, not forgetting her and

turned

that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and

a direct response to Jasper's

Jasper didn't press further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to Vivienne. For now, let's