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.”

bunch,” Diana responded with

the group set off for

“Yuri, keep an eye on your wife. She’s

new one if that happens,” Yuri muttered, shutting off the whipped

two, give Diana a break. She was quite embarrassed earlier. As her brothers,

speaking of Diana, there’s something you need

“Go on.”

Willa’s paternity test. Diana was the only one

stunned him was not Diana’s

to cough, and Yuri quickly stepped forward to comfort him. “Dad, don’t get worked up. Maddox said we don’t

mean to say that Vivienne might actually be my

to be my niece. Dad, you’re not the only one who has that hunch, which is why

“Right, Dad. Should we

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

mole at home, they would keep it a

“Alright, I’m

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

were not particularly fond of their sister, they knew her all too well,

felt certain someone was backing

Yuri returned from the lab with the rushed paternity test

in, the

report to Jasper, a trace of regret in his

“Impossible, Diana clearly tampered

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

deflated but then took

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

Maddox knew Jasper’s heart

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

Yuri’s head. “When have I ever been wrong? There’s

have Vivienne as their niece, Yuri had already come to regard her

Perez family would treat Vivienne with genuine

that negated their blood relation,

to believe

to be his real

when Vivienne showed up out of the blue, he was

Why did every paternity test