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.

his fingers. "Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it,

a glance,

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

him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do

admitted, "That would be

her cousins to Vivienne,

dealings with the Grimshaw family,

Willa, she immediately said, "I've

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

she?" Maddox was

"Because she's

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though

it made sense. Perfect as a partner,

family exchanged

"So what now? Do we actually have to accept this guy

enough.

backtracked. "No, no, I never said we'd

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

not long acquainted,

well. She was

yet her involvement in

actions betrayed a soft heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she

not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to

turned to

for a change now that many issues were being

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

let's leave the decision to