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

a glance, her expression

up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war

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

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

admitted, "That would be

looking past her cousins to Vivienne, asked,

dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off

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

would she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

she's

deep feelings for

sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as a

family exchanged

Do we actually have to accept this guy as part

enough.

"No, no, I never said we'd accept

meaningfully at Vivienne. "You

not long

She was not one to

no interest to her, yet her involvement in

actions betrayed a soft heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain she portrayed him

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

turned

now that many issues were

Jasper's observation, simply stated,

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