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.

the same page. They were all for

gave him a glance, her

claim over Vivienne sparked a 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

they'll lock us up?" Maddox

glared at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want

"That

Vivienne,

in court hearings and dealings

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

about one thing. If my mom wakes

was puzzled.

sighed, "Because she's

of her deep feelings for

made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

family exchanged looks

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

glare was warning enough.

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never

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

not long acquainted,

was

interest to her, yet

exterior. Deep down, she knew

on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to his

conversation turned to

it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and

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

"Alright, let's leave the decision