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.

was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to

all here. Whatever you need to

scanned the room, finally fixing her gaze on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. “Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems

could not help but chuckle at her expression, playfully pinching

all quite busy, and frankly, we don’t have time

Vivienne’s relationship had never been overly warm, but certainly not as strained

return, she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family

to look down on them as if she

to

a finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, “Why do I feel like there’s someone

sweat breaking out

“That’s just

being ridiculous. “Can you stop with the theatrics? If there’s something to say, why can’t you just

sister back,

said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, “Ashley’s just suggesting the liquor cabinet

the comments and simply looked

and approached the cabinet, dismantling it

Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3… Timothy, do any of these addresses

direct question

had no knowledge of these

also

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

know. But

the liquor cabinet as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. “Vivienne, there’s a

were stunned. Behind the cabinet was

around except for Baron, who remained as still as a

a dismantled plank, Leopold said,

lips curved into a sly smile as she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, “You have

Leopold was puzzled.

could

recall having anything of the

into his pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

hand and tossed it into the

stop