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.

Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for

a glance, her expression

a decorated war

we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock us

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

authorities won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want

admitted, "That would

Vivienne,

been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst

immediately said, "I've already said I

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

would she?" Maddox was puzzled.

"Because she's blindly in

her deep feelings for Arthur, though

it made sense. Perfect as a partner,

exchanged

what now? Do we

enough. "Try it and

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never

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

long acquainted,

his granddaughter well. She was

no interest to her, yet her involvement in this

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

on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough

conversation turned

issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with Sasha's condition

response to Jasper's observation, simply stated,

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