The Million-Dollar Heart

Maddox couldn't believe it, his face a picture of hurt.

"No way, the way you looked at me yesterday, I knew what was going through your mind. If you don't want to get hitched, just drop it. We're good as we are, being close friends is enough for me, I won't ask for more..."

"I never said I didn't want to get married!"

The air froze.

Maddox grabbed her, looking deeply into Willa's eyes, his voice rough with emotion, "Willa, you... you agree?"

Willa, overwhelmed by his intense gaze, blushed deeply, "I've been thinking about it these past few days. You've been on my case so much, I hardly had a moment to myself..."

"My fault, all my fault," Maddox quickly took the blame.

He realized he hadn't given Willa the space she needed to think.

Willa's heart melted, and the sadness in her eyes slowly surfaced. She bit her lip, "Maddox, do you really not care about my background, or that I'm the daughter of that man?" Maddox's heart broke hearing this.

His Willa was the purest, most wonderful person in the world.

If he could, he'd wish she'd never have to find out about her own background.

Those people didn't deserve to share any connection with Willa.

He looked at her with all the determination he could muster, dispelling her insecurities word by word.

"Willa, you are you, and you're the one I, Maddox, will never let go. Don't let those people get to you. You are part of the Perez family, and the Perez family will always be your home, your backbone." Willa opened her mouth, barely whispering, "Maddox..."

Maddox felt a pang of heartache, unsure how to comfort her, "Willa, please don't cry. When you cry, I'm at a total loss. How about, you take a swing at me?"

Willa couldn't help but laugh, standing on her tiptoes to meet his gaze, her fingertips gently caressing his face, both authoritative and tender, "Maddox, I'm not crying, I'm happy."

Maddox was stunned.

had Willa ever been

Willa felt even more convinced of her decision, leaning in to ask, "Maddox, do you want to kiss

Maddox's mind went blank.

the roots of his neck, his intense focus solely on Willa's words and those

He sincerely admitted, "Yes!"

blushed, closing

his excitement palpable as he pulled her closer, about to lean

the last moment, Willa suddenly remembered something, lifting her hand to stop him, "Hold on,

eagerly, "Yeah, yeah, take

agreed, was

can we kiss

only to open them a second later, "You were sitting there earlier, looking a bit

just had a lot on my mind. By

were losing it, so

Maddox, "..."

nephew of his, always taking a dig

with warning, "Maddox, when you kiss me, don't think about anything

even his eldest son Luke had taken a

found himself at the forefront, basking in the Perez

at the sight,

but roll his eyes, "Maddox, you don't have to be this ecstatic just because Sasha's visiting. If you keep that mouth open any longer, you'll

Willa, his demeanor changed instantly, "Willa, try this,

couldn't bother to

nudged him, "Can't you see Maddox is about to strike gold? You, as the big brother, better get ready to shower them with gifts. Don't let us down

unfiltered, "Him? I'm afraid the gifts would rot in

him, big brother. Maddox has really stepped up his game.