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

the family’s all here.

Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. “Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems

her expression, playfully pinching her cheek. “Indeed, not

quite busy, and frankly, we

but certainly

not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother,

hated how Vivienne always seemed to look down on them as

turned her gaze to Baron, her stare

the wardrobe behind Baron, “Why

cold sweat breaking

just a liquor cabinet. How could someone be

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

sister back, worried she might

trying to defuse the tension, “Ashley’s just suggesting the liquor cabinet

and

and approached the

intervene, but Percival spoke up, his tone detached, “Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East

direct question took

knowledge

at Ronald, who also shook his

Even if

“Of course, you wouldn’t know. But

as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage.

members were stunned. Behind the cabinet was a solid wall; how

around except for Baron, who remained

a dismantled plank, Leopold

curved into a sly smile as she fixed her gaze on Baron and

Leopold was puzzled.

could

having anything of the

into his pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

hand and tossed it into the

stop him