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

gave him a glance, her expression

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

acknowledge him, they'll lock

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering us day

"That would

her cousins to Vivienne, asked,

dealings

she immediately said, "I've already said I

"Uncle, you're wrong about one thing.

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After being

sighed, "Because she's blindly in

of her deep feelings

sense. Perfect as a partner,

Perez family exchanged

what now? Do we actually have to accept this guy as part

glare was warning enough. "Try it

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never

looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You

long

She was not one to indulge

to her, yet her involvement

her tough exterior. Deep down,

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

conversation turned to

it might be time for a change now that many issues

to Jasper's observation,

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