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 I said no.

him a

to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a

acknowledge him, they'll lock us

glared at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That

her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had

she immediately said, "I've

looking at Maddox, she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one

would she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

sighed, "Because she's blindly

mother speak of her deep feelings for

it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in her

family exchanged

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

enough. "Try it

backtracked. "No, no, I

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

long

his granddaughter well. She was not one to

of no interest to her, yet her involvement in

actions betrayed a soft heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew

forgetting her and Karen, were

conversation turned to

many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with Sasha's condition

to Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa,

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