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.

"Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it,

him a

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

they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

admitted, "That would

to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

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

said, "I've already said

added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one

would she?" Maddox was

"Because she's blindly

mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never understood the

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

family exchanged looks

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

warning enough. "Try it and

no, I never said we'd

Jasper looked meaningfully

long

was not one to

interest to her, yet

her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur

her and Karen,

conversation turned to

it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with Sasha's condition

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

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