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.

snapped his fingers. "Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it, but I said no.

a glance, her expression

is Vivienne's father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst

said, "I've already

one thing.

she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

sighed, "Because she's

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur,

knowing Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps,

Perez family exchanged

what now? Do we actually have to accept this

glare was warning enough. "Try it and

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

Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually

long acquainted,

his granddaughter well. She was not one to indulge

no interest to her, yet her involvement in this discussion

tough exterior. Deep down, she

forgetting her

turned to

hinting it might be time for a change now that many issues

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

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