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.

on the same page. They were all for it, but I

him a

a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a daughter

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

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering us day in,

admitted, "That would

Vivienne, asked, "What do you think,

hearings and dealings with the

said, "I've

at Maddox, she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one thing. If my mom

Maddox was puzzled.

"Because she's

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur,

Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in

Perez family exchanged looks

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

warning enough. "Try

backtracked. "No, no, I never

Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want

long

She was not

of no interest to her, yet her involvement in

beneath her tough exterior. Deep down,

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her

turned

time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne

to Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa,

her evasion, Jasper didn't press further. "Alright, let's leave