The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Next to Jasper, Diana bit her lower lip in frustration.

Was Maddox being too obvious?

It was as if he were broadcasting to the world that he disliked her!

It was outrageous, completely outrageous!

Diana took several deep breaths to compose herself and turned to Vivienne with a smile. “Vivienne, I rushed over here and didn’t have time to pick up a gift for you. How about we hit the shops later, and anything you fancy, it’s on me.”

“No, that’s alright, I don’t need anything,” Vivienne replied, eager to keep her distance.

For some reason, Vivienne always felt uneasy around Diana. It was not just because Diana was adopted into the Perez family; there was something off-putting about her.

Maybe it was what people called ‘bad vibes.’

Diana moved closer, eagerly grabbing Vivienne’s hand again. “Vivienne, don’t be like that with me. Even if you’ve got everything, one more thing won’t hurt. Us girls can never have too many treats, right, Zelda?”

Zelda looked up from her book and said, “Absolutely, I’ll tag along. I always believe in the more the merrier when it comes to my closet.”

Yuri coughed, glancing at the pile of unopened shopping bags near Zelda.

Yeah, the more the merrier.

Diana forced a laugh, but with Zelda jumping in, she could not very well refuse. “Alright, let’s go together.”

While she appeared enthusiastic, Diana was fuming inside.

What was Zelda up to?

Was she worried about Vivienne going out alone with her?

Ha! The nerve, thinking she was a true Perez through and through!

Seeing Zelda on board, Vivienne had no more excuses to decline.

Percival, jingling his car keys, chimed in, “I’d be honored to chauffeur three lovely ladies today.”

Diana responded

finished checking Jasper’s health, the

in the yard, Maddox turned off the grill, “Yuri, keep an eye on your wife. She’s got

happens,” Yuri muttered,

quite embarrassed earlier. As her brothers, try not

“Dad, speaking of Diana, there’s something you need

“Go on.”

Willa’s paternity test. Diana was the only one who had

of shock crossing his face. But what stunned him was not Diana’s meddling with the

don’t get worked up. Maddox said we don’t have proof against Diana yet.

himself. “Do you boys mean to say that Vivienne might actually be my

knelt, looking up at his father earnestly. “Yes. Ever since I first laid eyes on Vivienne, I felt she had to be my niece. Dad, you’re not the only one who has

Dad. Should we redo the

wraps. No one at home should know,

would keep

agreed. “Alright, I’m

with the test, Maddox stayed with Jasper,

though they were not particularly fond of their sister, they knew

certain someone was

lab with the rushed paternity test

came in, the

the report to Jasper, a

Diana clearly tampered with

personally supervised the entire process in the lab, from sample collection to result delivery.

then took

then we shouldn’t force it.” Jasper wheeled himself away. “You two go have fun. I need

knew Jasper’s heart was once

of this, Maddox? Did Diana really tamper with the test?” Yuri could not help

smacked Yuri’s head. “When have I ever been wrong? There’s definitely something not

to have Vivienne as their

Perez family would treat Vivienne

paternity test report that negated their blood

refused to

to be his

had always been the apple of her brother Maddox’s eye, so when Vivienne showed up out of

adding up. Why did every paternity test come