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

the group set off for

the yard, Maddox turned off the grill, “Yuri, keep an eye on your wife. She’s got a knack for turning our home into

happens,” Yuri muttered,

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

ear. “Dad, speaking of Diana,

“Go on.”

and there was some tampering with Willa’s paternity test. Diana was the only one who had contact with Willa then, and I suspect she’s behind it. We just

was not Diana’s meddling with the will or

clearly agitated, began to cough, and Yuri quickly stepped forward to comfort him. “Dad, don’t get worked

you boys mean

his father earnestly. “Yes. Ever since I first laid eyes on Vivienne, I felt she had to be my niece.

nodded. “Right, Dad. Should we

it again, but keep it under wraps. No one at home

home, they would

“Alright, I’m on

went to deal with the test, Maddox stayed with Jasper, unable to shake

fond of their

felt certain someone was backing

the lab with the rushed paternity

in, the news was

same result,” Yuri handed the report to Jasper, a trace

Diana clearly

process in the lab, from sample collection to result

then took

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

and Maddox knew Jasper’s

you got to the bottom of this, Maddox? Did Diana really

I ever been wrong?

and followed his brother. While it was disappointing not to have Vivienne as their niece, Yuri had already

did not change how the Perez family would treat Vivienne with genuine

burned the paternity test report that negated their

to

to be his

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

was not adding up. Why did every paternity test come