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.

things and scare Willa? If so, I can just drop the

It was clear why her mother

Willa disappear? Did she say anything before she got

to talk, but she

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

in a way last night... Vivienne, you

was about to lose it, Natalia and Yasmine came running over, each grabbing one of her hands, and giving Maddox a

is at it again. Let's go play somewhere

any longer. No wonder he had

room, Arthur was surrounded by the Perez brothers, while Sasha 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

over, "Willa,

I went to grab some of her favorite snacks. I missed you

settled down with the kids, she blurted out,

glanced at Sasha, thinking Vivienne was joking, unsure

just laughed, choosing not to

Vivienne a look, signaling her concern for

it off, "I'm serious. Ask Natalia and Yasmine; kids

nodded vigorously, their hands wildly gesturing, "She's right. Uncle Mac is having a meltdown in the

any longer and excused herself to

careful, Uncle Mac might come after

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

Willa's sake, while Aunt Alice

outburst, emphasizing the need for Uncle Mac to grow up and stop playing Romeo to