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 it, but I said no. We're

gave him a glance, her

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

we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you

admitted, "That would be

looking past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

hearings and dealings with

immediately said, "I've already said

"Uncle, you're wrong about one thing. If my mom

she?" Maddox was

"Because she's

mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur,

Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner,

family exchanged looks of

now? Do we actually have to accept this guy as part of

glare was warning enough. "Try

no, I never said we'd

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

not long acquainted,

his granddaughter well. She was not one

of no interest to her, yet her involvement in

tough exterior. Deep down, she

her and Karen, were testament enough

conversation turned

change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's

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