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.

we were on the same page. They

a

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

they'll lock us

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

us over this, but they'll surely try

admitted, "That

her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

had been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed

by Willa, she immediately said, "I've

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

would she?" Maddox was puzzled.

sighed, "Because she's blindly

speak of her deep feelings

Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps,

family exchanged looks of

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

was warning enough. "Try it

I never

Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to

long

granddaughter well. She was not

no interest to her, yet her involvement in this discussion

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

the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were

turned

now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation,

let's leave the decision to