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."

gave him a glance, her expression

father. It's not up to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war hero. If the authorities find out he has a daughter he hasn't acknowledged, they won't just

they'll lock

glared at him.

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them pestering

admitted, "That would be

past her cousins to Vivienne,

caught up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw

"I've already said I won't acknowledge

wrong about one thing.

Maddox was puzzled.

she's

her deep feelings for Arthur, though she'd never understood the

it made sense. Perfect as a partner, perhaps, but not

family exchanged looks of

now? Do we actually have to accept this guy as part of

was warning enough. "Try it

"No, no, I never said we'd

discussion, no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully

not long

his granddaughter well. She was not

yet her involvement in this

tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur

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

turned

be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by Vivienne and Percival,

avoiding a direct response to Jasper's observation, simply stated,

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

return was a cause