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.

knew we were on the same

gave him a glance, her expression

a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has

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

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you

"That

past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

up in court hearings and dealings with

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

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

Maddox was puzzled. After being

sighed, "Because she's blindly in

her mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never understood the

sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but

exchanged looks

snapping out of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually

glare was warning enough. "Try it and

no, I never said

meaningfully at Vivienne.

not long acquainted,

was

no interest to her, yet

down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain

on the battlefield, not forgetting her and

turned to

that many issues were being

response to Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa,

let's leave