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

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 daughter he

him, they'll lock us

glared at him. "Be

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

they'll surely try to persuade Vivienne. Do you want them

admitted, "That

her cousins to Vivienne, asked, "What do

had been up early, caught up in court hearings and dealings with the

by Willa, she immediately said, "I've already said I won't acknowledge

wrong about one thing. If my

would she?" Maddox was

sighed, "Because she's blindly in

her mother speak of her deep feelings for

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

exchanged

his surprise, asked, "So what now? Do we actually have to accept this guy as

glare was warning enough. "Try

backtracked. "No, no, I never said we'd accept

Jasper looked meaningfully

not long

granddaughter well. She was not one to

to her, yet her involvement in this

heart beneath her tough exterior. Deep down, she knew Arthur wasn't the villain she portrayed him to

years on the battlefield, not forgetting her and Karen,

turned

it might be time for a change now that many issues

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

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

was a