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.

I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it,

a glance, her

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,

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

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them

admitted, "That would

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst the

said, "I've

one thing. If

would she?" Maddox was puzzled.

she's blindly

often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd

it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in her

exchanged

we actually have

glare was warning enough. "Try

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I

further discussion, no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at

long

was

her, yet her involvement in

tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur

the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough

turned to

hinting it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated,

further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to Vivienne. For now, let's