The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Maddox's eyes lit up the moment he saw Willa returning home.

He hurried over to her, barely containing his excitement. "Willa, you're back?"

He was so close that his warm breath tickled her face, stirring something unfamiliar within her.

She coughed lightly, pushing him away with a finger. "Back off! You reek of sweat!"

"Huh?" Maddox sniffed himself. "Do I? But I just showered this morning!"

The summer heat made sweating inevitable, prompting him to adopt a twice-daily shower routine.

Willa, uninterested in engaging further, walked straight to Jasper. "Dad, I'm home."

Jasper nodded. "Good to have you back. Sit down. We were just discussing whether Vivienne should acknowledge her father. You should weigh in!"

Willa had barely approached her chair when she paused, confused. "Vivienne's father?"

"Yes," Yuri chimed in. "Today, Vivienne's biological father showed up. DNA tests confirm it's Arthur. He's planning to marry Sasha and wants to officially recognize Vivienne."

As soon as Yuri finished, Willa's expression darkened. "No way!"

Vivienne sent Willa a smile of admiration.

Jasper and the others were taken aback but soon Jasper said, "We were leaning towards refusal too, but after thinking it over, he is Vivienne's father, after all. It seems wrong not to acknowledge him."

Willa scoffed. "Some father! Where was he all this time? Now he decides to show up like he's picking out a bargain at a flea market!"

Willa was known for her aloofness, rarely swearing.

Her outburst left the Perez family speechless for a moment.

Maddox snapped his fingers. "Exactly, Willa! I knew we were on the same page. They were all for it, but I said no. We're truly family."

a glance,

over Vivienne sparked a debate. "Arthur is Vivienne's father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a

we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock

at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

but they'll surely try to

"That would

past her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What

up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed

Willa, she immediately said, "I've

about one

would she?" Maddox was puzzled. After

sighed, "Because she's blindly in

her deep

Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

family exchanged looks of

snapping out of his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually have to

enough. "Try it

I never

consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge him, don't

long acquainted,

granddaughter well. She was not one to

to her, yet her involvement in

her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the

the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to his

conversation turned

it might be time for a change now that many issues were

direct response to Jasper's observation,

didn't press further. "Alright, let's leave the decision to

return was a