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.

we were on the same page. They were all for it,

a glance, her

over 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 the authorities find out he has a daughter he hasn't acknowledged, they won't just let it

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

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want

"That would be

looking past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do

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

"I've already said I won't acknowledge

one thing. If

was puzzled. After

"Because she's

her deep feelings for

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

Perez family exchanged looks

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

warning enough. "Try it

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I never

discussion, no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully

not long

his granddaughter well. She was not

no interest to her, yet her involvement in

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

battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament

conversation turned

it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival,

Jasper's observation, simply stated, "Grandpa,

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