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

a glance, her

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

they'll

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

try to persuade

admitted, "That would be

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw

Willa, she immediately said, "I've already said

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

would she?" Maddox was

sighed, "Because she's

often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never

as a partner, perhaps, but not

exchanged

Do we

enough. "Try it and

no, I

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

long acquainted,

was not one

yet her involvement in this

Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her

turned to

that many issues

to Jasper's observation,

"Alright, let's leave the decision