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.

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

gave him a glance, her

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

they'll

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would be

to Vivienne,

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

"I've already said

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

she?" Maddox was

she's blindly in

her deep feelings

partner, perhaps, but not as

exchanged

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

was warning enough. "Try

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

discussion, no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge him, don't

not long acquainted,

was not one to

of no interest to her, yet her involvement in

down, she knew Arthur wasn't

forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to

conversation turned

time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and

direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated,

her evasion, Jasper didn't press further. "Alright, let's leave the