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.

same page. They were all for it, but I said

him a

father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a

him, they'll lock

at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want

admitted, "That would

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

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

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

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

Maddox was

"Because she's

speak of her deep feelings

partner, perhaps, but

exchanged looks of

of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually

warning enough. "Try it

no, I

Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge

not long

his granddaughter well. She was not

interest to her, yet her involvement

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

not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to his

turned to

now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with

to Jasper's observation, simply

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