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

the family’s all here.

eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. “Mr. Wolf, am I

at her expression, playfully pinching

“Vivienne, what are you up to? We’re all quite busy, and

warm, but certainly not as strained as

caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since

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

her gaze to Baron,

finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron,

sweat

voice, “That’s just a liquor cabinet. How

with the theatrics? If there’s something to say, why can’t

quickly pulled his sister back, worried she might provoke Vivienne

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

understood immediately and approached

up, his tone detached, “Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community

question

had no knowledge of

Ronald, who also shook

the Brooks Mansion. Even if we own other properties,

smiled. “Of course, you wouldn’t know. But Baron, he knows very

the liquor cabinet as they spoke, revealing a

the cabinet was a solid wall; how could there be

except for Baron, who remained as still as

plank, Leopold said,

smile as she fixed her gaze on Baron and said to Leopold,

Leopold was puzzled.

could that

recall having anything of

pocket, he found

Typical Vivienne, always prepared.

weighed the grenade in his hand

stop him