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

a glance, her

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

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

glared at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering us

admitted, "That would be

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you think,

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

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

wrong about one thing.

would she?" Maddox was

sighed, "Because she's

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

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

Perez family exchanged looks of

surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we

was warning enough.

no, I never said

meaningfully

long

well. She was not

of no interest to her, yet her involvement

betrayed a soft heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her

turned to

issues were being handled by Vivienne

a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply

let's leave the