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, but I said no. We're truly

him a

not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a daughter he hasn't acknowledged, they won't just let

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

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

"The authorities won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do

"That would

to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed

by Willa, she immediately said, "I've already said I

wrong about one thing. If my mom

she?" Maddox was puzzled.

she's

heard her mother speak of her deep feelings

Perfect as a partner, perhaps,

exchanged looks of

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

was warning enough.

no, I never

Jasper looked meaningfully

long acquainted,

She was not one

yet her involvement in this discussion spoke

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

not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to

turned

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

a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply

let's leave