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.

was lost in his thoughts, "Did I rush things and scare Willa? If so, I can just drop the subject. Honestly, as long as

sigh. It was clear why her mother got along so well

Mac, when did Willa disappear? Did she say anything before

night and tried to talk, but she kept

is it possible that Willa just stepped out for a

me in a way

lose it, Natalia and Yasmine came running over, each grabbing one of her

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

nodded, unable to handle Uncle Mac's romantic woes any longer. No wonder he had been chasing

the family had been ignoring Maddox's

over, "Willa,

coming, so I went to grab

down with the kids, she blurted out, "Uncle Mac has lost

Sasha, thinking Vivienne was joking, unsure

aunts just laughed,

look, signaling

Ask Natalia and Yasmine; kids don't

wildly gesturing, "She's right. Uncle

any longer

careful, Uncle Mac might come after

and Yasmine, chuckling to Sasha, "You worry too much. With Willa going to

assertive for Willa's sake, while

realizing her slip, quickly explained her outburst, emphasizing the need for Uncle Mac to grow up and stop