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."

him a glance,

to us," Luke interjected. "Remember, he's a decorated war

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock us up?" Maddox

at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

authorities won't imprison us over this, but they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do

"That would

her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do you think,

up in court hearings and dealings with the Grimshaw

by Willa, she immediately said, "I've

she added, "Uncle, you're wrong about one thing. If my mom wakes up, she'd

Maddox was

she's blindly in

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

it made sense. Perfect as a partner,

Perez family exchanged

we actually have to accept this

was warning enough. "Try it

no, I

was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want to acknowledge

not long

well. She was not one to

to her, yet her involvement in

beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew

not forgetting her and Karen, were testament enough to his

conversation turned

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

Jasper's observation, simply

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

was