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.

his fingers. "Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it, but I said no.

a glance,

debate. "Arthur is 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,

him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

over this, but they'll surely try to

"That would

to Vivienne, asked,

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

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

"Uncle, you're wrong about one thing.

would she?" Maddox was

"Because she's

heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for

partner, perhaps, but not as a father

Perez family exchanged looks of

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

glare was warning enough. "Try it

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I

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

long acquainted,

granddaughter well. She was not one to

to her, yet her involvement in this discussion

betrayed a soft heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were

turned

issues were being handled by

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated,

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