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

a

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

don't acknowledge him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled his

at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering us

admitted, "That

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

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

by Willa, she immediately said, "I've already said I won't acknowledge

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

was puzzled. After

sighed, "Because she's blindly in

heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though

a partner, perhaps, but not as a father

Perez family exchanged

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

enough. "Try it and

I never

looked meaningfully at

not long acquainted,

was not one to indulge

to her, yet her involvement in this discussion

exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain she portrayed him to

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

turned to

many issues

Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa,

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