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.

same page. They were all for it,

gave him a

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

him, they'll lock

at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them

"That would be

looking past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

hearings and dealings

immediately said, "I've already said

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

was puzzled. After

she's blindly in

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never understood

Arthur, it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

exchanged looks of

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

enough.

backtracked. "No, no, I never

was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You

not long

well. She was not one to

no interest to her, yet her

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

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were

turned

it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated,

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