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.

were on the same page. They were all for it, but I said no. We're truly

a glance,

claim over Vivienne sparked 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

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock

glared at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do

admitted, "That

her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you think,

and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst the family's

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

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

Maddox was puzzled. After

"Because she's

often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings

a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in

family exchanged looks of

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

was warning enough. "Try it and

I never said

consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually

not long acquainted,

She was

her, yet her involvement in this discussion

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

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

turned

that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with Sasha's condition

to Jasper's

"Alright, let's leave