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.

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

a glance, her

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

we don't acknowledge him, they'll

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

us over this, but they'll surely try to

admitted, "That

past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw

said, "I've already

she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After being

sighed, "Because she's blindly

mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though

as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in her

exchanged looks of

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

was warning enough. "Try

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I

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

not long acquainted,

well. She was not one to

her, yet her involvement

her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur

on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were

conversation turned

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

a direct response to Jasper's

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