The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Kala felt a ripple of anxiety; she certainly did not want the Brooks family to become tabloid fodder again.

It was not about her rising career but the desire to preserve the harmonious unity of the Brooks family from fragmenting into scandal.

Vivienne’s gaze dropped slightly before she spoke softly, “There’s a bit of an issue.”

Kala’s heart clenched with worry. “Vivienne, please tell me it’s not something to do with Dad…”

Her words stumbled out of her, knotted with nerves.

No, it could not be!

Her father was the epitome of kindness, incapable of harming a soul.

Though she tried to reassure herself, Kala’s palms were drenched with sweat from her mounting tension.

“Let’s discuss it when he gets back,” Vivienne said as she sat down and pulled out her phone to call Timothy, telling him to return home.

Meanwhile, with Cheryl’s support, Baron made his way out of his room.

Kala rushed to help Baron down the stairs, her mind racing with apprehension.

She had no clue what would unfold next.

But she was certain that whatever was about to happen would once again turn the Brooks family upside down.

“Vivienne, what’s on your mind?” Baron asked, his aged eyes betraying a hint of guilt.

Vivienne smiled faintly. “Let’s wait until everyone’s here.”

Baron did not press further, but his grip on his cane tightened, his hand slick with anxious perspiration.

Soon, Timothy and Ronald returned, and alongside them walked Ashley with her brother Darren and Melissa in tow.

With the Brooks family gathered, silence fell, all eyes on Vivienne and Percival.

Darren kept glancing at Leopold, seeking clues as to what was happening.

Vivienne was about to make. After all, he was just the

here. Whatever you need to

eyes shimmering with feigned confusion.

her expression, playfully pinching

what are you up to? We’re all quite busy, and frankly, we don’t have time to watch you

been overly warm, but certainly not

Vivienne’s return, she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother, Ashley found her

Vivienne always seemed to look down on them as if she considered herself better than

her gaze to Baron, her

wardrobe behind Baron, “Why do I feel

instantly, cold sweat

fear in his voice, “That’s just a liquor cabinet. How could

thought Vivienne was being ridiculous. “Can you stop with the theatrics? If there’s something to say, why

his sister back, worried she

the tension, “Ashley’s just suggesting the liquor cabinet can’t be hiding someone, that’s

ignored the comments and simply looked

understood immediately and approached the

up, his tone detached, “Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3…

question took

no knowledge of these

Ronald, who also shook his head in

the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties, they’re usually nearby. The houses you mentioned are unfamiliar

know. But Baron, he knows

they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. “Vivienne, there’s

cabinet was a solid

except for Baron, who

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said,

on Baron and said to

Leopold was puzzled.

could

not recall having anything of the

he reached into his pocket,

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

in his hand and

could not stop