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.

on the same page. They were all for it, but I

him a glance, her

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

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

admitted, "That

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

up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and

said, "I've already said

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

she?" Maddox was

she's

had often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings

Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

Perez family exchanged looks

asked, "So what now? Do we actually

glare was warning enough.

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I

no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at

not long acquainted,

well. She was not

interest to her, yet

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

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

conversation turned to

it might be time for a change now that many issues

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

press further. "Alright, let's leave