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.

about the announcement Vivienne was about to make. After

exhaled deeply. “Vivienne, the family’s all here.

Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. “Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems like not

her expression, playfully pinching

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

been overly warm, but certainly not as strained as it

allowing a peaceful coexistence. But

how Vivienne always seemed to look down on them as if she considered

gaze to Baron, her

behind Baron, “Why do I feel like

up instantly, cold sweat breaking

down the fear in his voice, “That’s just a liquor cabinet. How could

theatrics? If there’s

pulled his sister back, worried

said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, “Ashley’s just suggesting the liquor cabinet can’t be hiding someone, that’s

comments and simply looked at

approached

but Percival 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

direct question took

knowledge of

also

replied, “The Brooks family mostly resides in the Brooks Mansion. Even if we

wouldn’t know. But

the liquor cabinet as they spoke, revealing a hidden passage.

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

crowded around except for Baron, who remained as still as

on a dismantled plank, Leopold said, “Vivienne, what

curved into a sly smile as she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold, “You

Leopold was puzzled.

could

recall having anything

pocket, he found

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

grenade in his hand and tossed it into

could not stop