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.

on the same page. They were all for it, but I said no. We're

a

paternal claim over 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

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

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would be

to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

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

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

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

would she?" Maddox was

"Because she's blindly in

mother speak of her deep feelings for

a partner,

exchanged

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

warning enough. "Try it and

no, I never

no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge him,

long

well. She was not one to indulge

no interest to her, yet her involvement in

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

battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament

turned to

hinting it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne

a direct response to Jasper's observation,

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