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

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

if we don't acknowledge him, they'll lock

glared at

Shrugging, Maddox fell silent.

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

"That would be

to Vivienne, asked, "What do

dealings with the Grimshaw family, and had dozed off amidst

immediately said, "I've

you're wrong about one

she?" Maddox was

sighed, "Because she's blindly

had often heard her mother speak of her deep feelings

as a partner, perhaps, but not as a father in

Perez family exchanged

Do we

glare was warning enough. "Try it

no, I never said we'd

discussion, no consensus was reached. Finally, Jasper looked meaningfully at Vivienne. "You actually want

long acquainted,

his granddaughter well. She was

of no interest to her, yet her

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

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

turned

hinting it might be time for a change now that many issues were being handled by

direct response to Jasper's

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

return was a cause