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.

clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to make. After all,

all here. Whatever you need to say, go

scanned the room, finally fixing her gaze on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. “Mr. Wolf, am I

help but chuckle at her expression,

busy,

had never been overly warm, but certainly not as

she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But

Vivienne always seemed to look down on them as if she

to

towards the wardrobe behind Baron, “Why do

cold sweat

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

with the theatrics? If

sister back,

said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the

comments and

immediately and approached the

spoke up, his tone detached, “Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3… Timothy, do any of these addresses

direct question took

no knowledge of

Ronald, who also shook his head

replied, “The Brooks family mostly resides in the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties, they’re usually nearby. The

wouldn’t know.

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

cabinet was a solid wall; how

who remained as still as a

dismantled plank, Leopold said,

as she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, “You have

Leopold was puzzled.

What could that

having anything of

pocket, he found a brand-new tear gas

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

his hand and tossed

could not stop him