The Million-Dollar Heart

In the backyard, Vivienne was keeping an eye on Natalia and Yasmine as they played in the garden. She was merely watching, as the kids always behaved and stayed close when she was around. Maddox tried to approach stealthily, but Vivienne spotted him instantly.

He looked around nervously, as if he was worried about being followed. His attempt at being sneaky was almost comical.

Even Natalia and Yasmine noticed him, but they just glanced his way and continued with their flower picking, unbothered.

When Maddox turned and met Vivienne's calm gaze, he felt like she could see right through him. He awkwardly touched his nose and said, "Vivienne, um, you've been getting along well with my niece's husband, right?"

Vivienne was puzzled. Was this some new, odd way of greeting?

She remembered Maddox's call a few days ago, which was followed by a message saying it was nothing urgent. She hadn't pressed the matter, but now it seemed like she might have missed something important.

Pretending to be casual, she asked, "Uncle Mac, I haven't seen Willa around today, have you?"

Mentioning Willa made Maddox's face fall instantly. He sat down and started lamenting, "Vivienne, do you think Willa's mad at me? She won't answer my calls or texts, and I have no clue where she's gone..." Vivienne quickly moved away, rubbing her forehead, "What did you do to Willa this time?"

Maddox hemmed and hawed without giving a straight answer, his face turning a shade of red.

Vivienne guessed, "She didn't accept your proposal?"

Maddox froze, his face turning beet red in shock. "Vivienne, how did you guess?"

Vivienne looked at him with a "what do you think" expression. Everyone in the family knew about their relationship, including her considering Willa as an aunt.

The wedding was only a few days ago, and they were already having issues. It had to be about the proposal.

I rush things and scare Willa? If so, I can just drop the subject. Honestly, as long

why her mother

when did Willa disappear? Did she say anything before

and tried to talk, but she kept avoiding me. And now she's gone first thing

patience was running thin, "Uncle Mac, is it possible that Willa just stepped

was certain, "Impossible, she looked at me in a way last night... Vivienne, you don't understand,

as Vivienne was about to lose it, Natalia and Yasmine came running over, each grabbing one of her

at it again. Let's go play somewhere else," they

romantic woes any longer. No wonder he had been chasing Willa for over a

was chatting with a few aunts. Willa, whom Maddox had been fretting over, was right there. Vivienne understood why the family had been ignoring Maddox's antics. A simple outing had turned him into a bundle of

over, "Willa, you're

coming, so I went to grab some of

kids, she blurted

thinking Vivienne was joking, unsure of

laughed,

Vivienne a look,

waved it off, "I'm serious. Ask Natalia and

right. Uncle Mac

any longer and excused herself

teased, "Be careful, Uncle Mac might

Sasha, "You worry too much. With Willa going to him, Uncle

expressed frustration with Maddox, wishing he'd be more assertive for Willa's sake, while Aunt Alice Churchill gently reminded everyone to mind the

for Uncle Mac