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 said no. We're

a glance, her expression

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

acknowledge him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox rolled

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would

past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you think,

had been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and

immediately said, "I've already

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

Maddox was puzzled.

sighed, "Because she's

often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for

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

family exchanged looks

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

enough.

backtracked. "No, no, I never said we'd

looked meaningfully at Vivienne.

long acquainted,

was not one to

of no interest to her, yet her involvement in

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

the battlefield, not forgetting her

conversation turned

a change now that many issues were being handled

a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa, I'm

evasion, Jasper didn't press further. "Alright, let's