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.

Vivienne was about to make. After all,

here. Whatever you need to say, go

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

help but chuckle at her

frowned. “Vivienne, what are you up to? We’re all quite busy, and frankly, we don’t have

overly warm, but

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

down on them

her gaze to

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

instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite his

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

“Can you stop with the theatrics? If there’s something

pulled his sister back, worried she might

upset,” Darren said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the

the comments and simply

understood immediately and approached the

his tone detached, “Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17,

direct question

no knowledge of

at Ronald, who also

family mostly resides in the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other

“Of course, you wouldn’t know. But Baron,

they spoke, revealing a hidden

stunned. Behind the cabinet was a

who remained as still

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said, “Vivienne,

her gaze on

Leopold was puzzled.

What could

did not recall having anything of

he reached into his pocket, he found a brand-new

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

the grenade in his hand and tossed it into

could not stop