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 no.

him a glance,

Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he

they'll lock us up?" Maddox

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

admitted, "That

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

court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst

said, "I've already said I

about one thing. If my mom wakes

Maddox was puzzled.

sighed, "Because she's

heard her mother speak of her deep

made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but

family exchanged

what now? Do we actually have

enough. "Try

no, I

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

long

granddaughter well. She was not one to indulge

to her, yet her involvement in this discussion

Deep down,

not forgetting her

turned to

might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation,

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