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.

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

him a glance, her expression

claim over Vivienne sparked a debate. "Arthur is Vivienne's father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a

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

glared at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That

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

and dealings with

said, "I've already

wrong about one

Maddox was puzzled. After

"Because she's blindly

her deep feelings

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

family exchanged looks of

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

warning enough.

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never

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

long

She was not

no interest to her, yet her involvement

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

her and Karen, were testament enough to his

turned

now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's

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