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 with a

health, the group

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

one if that happens,”

She was quite embarrassed earlier. As her brothers, try not to

his ear. “Dad, speaking of

“Go on.”

the only one who had contact with Willa then, and I suspect she’s behind it.

leaned forward, a look of shock crossing his face. But what stunned him was not Diana’s meddling with the will or the test; it was that the paternity

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

Yuri’s hand, steadying himself. “Do you boys mean to say that Vivienne might actually

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 that hunch, which

Should we

keep it under wraps. No one at home should know, not even Zelda. Handle it discreetly in

would keep it

agreed. “Alright, I’m on

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

grown up with Diana, and though they were not particularly fond of their sister, they knew her all too well, especially her

certain someone was

Yuri returned from the lab with the rushed paternity

in,

report to

shocked. “Impossible, Diana

process in the lab, from sample

visibly deflated but then

If she’s not, then we shouldn’t force it.” Jasper wheeled himself away.

Jasper’s heart

bottom of this, Maddox? Did Diana really tamper with the test?”

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

stopped arguing and followed his brother. While it was disappointing not to have Vivienne as

paternity test did not change how the Perez family would treat Vivienne with

that

to believe

had to be

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

something was not adding up. Why did every paternity test come