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

him a glance, her

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

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox

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 in,

admitted, "That would be

Vivienne,

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

said, "I've already said

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

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

she's

had often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never

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

family exchanged looks

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

enough. "Try it

I never

no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You

not long acquainted,

She was not one to indulge

interest to her, yet

down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain

not forgetting her and Karen, were testament

conversation turned

now that many issues were being

a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply

press further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to Vivienne. For now,