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.

shrugged; he was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to make.

the family’s all here.

with feigned confusion. “Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems like

not help but chuckle at her expression, playfully pinching her

quite busy, and frankly, we don’t have time to watch

overly warm, but certainly

Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother, Ashley found her increasingly

look down on them as if she considered herself better

gaze to Baron, her stare

finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, “Why

sweat breaking

just a liquor cabinet.

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

his sister back, worried she might provoke Vivienne

get upset,” Darren said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, “Ashley’s just suggesting the liquor

and

approached

Ridge Community villa 5, East County

question

had no knowledge of these

Ronald, who also shook his

if we own other properties, they’re

know.

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

cabinet was a

except for Baron, who remained

a dismantled plank, Leopold said,

her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, “You have something quite interesting in your

Leopold was puzzled.

What could

having anything of the

pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

grenade in his hand and tossed it

stop him