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.”

a bunch,” Diana

Vivienne finished checking Jasper’s health, the group set off

an eye on your wife. She’s got a knack

just buy a new one if that happens,” Yuri muttered, shutting

two, give Diana a break. She was quite embarrassed earlier. As her brothers, try not to be

speaking of Diana, there’s

“Go on.”

snooping around your will, and there was some tampering with Willa’s paternity test. Diana was the only

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

don’t get worked up. Maddox said

took Yuri’s hand, steadying himself. “Do you boys mean to

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

“Right, Dad. Should

“Do it again, but keep it under wraps. No one at home should know, not even Zelda. Handle

was a mole at home, they would

“Alright, I’m on

the test, Maddox stayed with Jasper, unable to shake his

particularly fond of their sister, they

felt certain someone was

from the lab with the rushed paternity

in, the news

result,” Yuri handed the report to Jasper, a trace of regret in

was shocked. “Impossible, Diana clearly

entire process in the lab, from sample collection to result delivery. No one

but then took a deep

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

Maddox knew Jasper’s heart

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

smacked Yuri’s head. “When have I ever been

disappointing not to have Vivienne as their niece,

test did not change how the Perez

that negated

refused to

to be his real

been the apple of her brother Maddox’s eye, so when Vivienne showed up out of the blue, he was convinced she simply had to be his missing

was not adding up. Why did every