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

gave him a glance,

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

acknowledge him, they'll lock

glared at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That

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

had been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw

Willa, she immediately said, "I've already

"Uncle, you're wrong about one thing. If my mom wakes up, she'd

was puzzled.

she's

her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd

as a partner, perhaps, but not as a

family exchanged looks

Do we actually have to accept this guy

enough. "Try it and

I never said we'd

Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne.

long acquainted,

his granddaughter well. She was not

to her, yet her

her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur

her and Karen, were

conversation turned

issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival, and

response to Jasper's observation, simply

her evasion, Jasper didn't press further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to Vivienne. For now,