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, but I

a glance, her

father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities

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

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed

immediately said, "I've already said I won't acknowledge

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

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After being

she's blindly in

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though

made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

family exchanged looks

snapping out of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually have to accept this guy as part of the

was warning enough.

I never said

reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne.

not long

was not

to her, yet

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

forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to his

turned

change now that many issues were being handled by

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

further. "Alright, let's leave the