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,

gave him a glance,

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

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

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne.

admitted, "That

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do

in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had

"I've already said

looking at Maddox, she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one thing.

was puzzled.

"Because she's blindly in

of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never

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

Perez family exchanged

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

glare was warning enough. "Try it and

no, I

reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge him,

long acquainted,

granddaughter well. She was not one to indulge

her, yet

Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain she portrayed him to

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her

conversation turned

issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with

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

further. "Alright, let's