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

gave him a

"Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a daughter he hasn't

him, they'll

glared at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

continued, "The authorities won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering us day

"That

cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you

and dealings with

she immediately said, "I've

"Uncle, you're wrong about one

she?" Maddox was

"Because she's

deep feelings for

Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in

exchanged looks

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

warning enough. "Try

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

looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge him,

not long

well. She was not one to

to her, yet

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

forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough

conversation turned

might be time for a change now that many issues

direct response to Jasper's

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