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.

him a glance,

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

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

at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

admitted, "That

cousins to Vivienne,

been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings

Willa, she immediately said, "I've already said

at Maddox, she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one thing.

she?" Maddox was

sighed, "Because she's blindly in

speak of her deep feelings for Arthur,

a partner, perhaps, but

exchanged

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

glare was warning enough. "Try it

quickly backtracked. "No, no, I

meaningfully at Vivienne.

long acquainted,

well. She was not

her, yet her involvement in this discussion spoke

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

the battlefield, not forgetting her and

conversation turned to

it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and with Sasha's condition

direct response to Jasper's

didn't press further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to Vivienne.