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.

the same page. They were all for it, but I said no. We're truly

gave him a

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

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock

at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would be

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

in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family,

Willa, she immediately said, "I've

you're wrong about one thing. If my mom wakes up,

would she?" Maddox was puzzled.

sighed, "Because she's blindly

had often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings for Arthur,

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

family exchanged looks of

of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we

was warning enough. "Try

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

meaningfully at Vivienne.

not long

was

her, yet her involvement in this

tough exterior. Deep down,

forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough

turned

a change now that many issues were being handled

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

"Alright, let's leave the decision