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.

fingers. "Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for

a glance,

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

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

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That

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

early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with

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

she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one

was puzzled. After being

sighed, "Because she's

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

Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps,

exchanged looks of

Do we actually have

enough. "Try it and

"No, no, I never

no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at

long acquainted,

She was not

her, yet

exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain

battlefield, not forgetting her and

conversation turned

time for a change now that many issues were being handled

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

further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to Vivienne.