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.

same page. They were all for

gave him a glance, her expression

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 a daughter he hasn't acknowledged, they won't just let it

we don't acknowledge him, they'll

glared at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering us day in,

admitted, "That would be

Vivienne, asked, "What

and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had

Willa, she immediately said, "I've already

about one thing. If

would she?" Maddox was puzzled.

sighed, "Because she's blindly

mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur,

a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in

exchanged looks

we actually have to accept this guy as part

glare was warning enough. "Try it and

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never said

Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne.

long

granddaughter well. She was

of no interest to her, yet her involvement in this

heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she

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

conversation turned to

many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival,

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

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