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

here. Whatever you need to say,

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

but chuckle at her

frowned. “Vivienne, what are you up to? We’re all quite busy,

been overly warm, but

trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets

to look down on them as if she considered

her gaze to

lifted a finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, “Why do I

up instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite his

fear in his voice, “That’s just a liquor

the theatrics? If there’s something

pulled his sister back, worried she

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

ignored the comments and

understood immediately and approached the cabinet, dismantling it

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

direct question took Timothy

knowledge of

at Ronald, who also shook his head

the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties, they’re usually

wouldn’t know. But Baron, he knows very

as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage. “Vivienne,

cabinet was a solid wall; how could

except for Baron, who remained as still

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said, “Vivienne,

she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, “You have something quite interesting

Leopold was puzzled.

could that

recall having anything of

into his pocket, he found a brand-new tear gas

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

grenade in his hand and tossed it into

stop