The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Maddox couldn't believe it, his face a picture of hurt.

"No way, the way you looked at me yesterday, I knew what was going through your mind. If you don't want to get hitched, just drop it. We're good as we are, being close friends is enough for me, I won't ask for more..."

"I never said I didn't want to get married!"

The air froze.

Maddox grabbed her, looking deeply into Willa's eyes, his voice rough with emotion, "Willa, you... you agree?"

Willa, overwhelmed by his intense gaze, blushed deeply, "I've been thinking about it these past few days. You've been on my case so much, I hardly had a moment to myself..."

"My fault, all my fault," Maddox quickly took the blame.

He realized he hadn't given Willa the space she needed to think.

Willa's heart melted, and the sadness in her eyes slowly surfaced. She bit her lip, "Maddox, do you really not care about my background, or that I'm the daughter of that man?" Maddox's heart broke hearing this.

His Willa was the purest, most wonderful person in the world.

If he could, he'd wish she'd never have to find out about her own background.

Those people didn't deserve to share any connection with Willa.

He looked at her with all the determination he could muster, dispelling her insecurities word by word.

"Willa, you are you, and you're the one I, Maddox, will never let go. Don't let those people get to you. You are part of the Perez family, and the Perez family will always be your home, your backbone." Willa opened her mouth, barely whispering, "Maddox..."

Maddox felt a pang of heartache, unsure how to comfort her, "Willa, please don't cry. When you cry, I'm at a total loss. How about, you take a swing at me?"

Willa couldn't help but laugh, standing on her tiptoes to meet his gaze, her fingertips gently caressing his face, both authoritative and tender, "Maddox, I'm not crying, I'm happy."

Maddox was stunned.

been this

his reaction, Willa felt even more convinced of her decision, leaning in to ask, "Maddox, do you want to kiss

Maddox's mind went blank.

the roots of his neck, his intense focus solely

He sincerely admitted, "Yes!"

closing her

excitement palpable as he pulled her closer,

her hand to stop him, "Hold on, the wedding can

yeah, take all

agreed, was time really

we

closed her eyes again, only to open them a second later, "You were sitting there earlier, looking a bit off... Are

blinked, quickly shaking his head, "I'm fine, just had a lot on my

said you were losing it, so I came to check on

Maddox, "..."

of his, always taking a dig

on this, he suddenly felt arms wrap tightly around his neck, a voice tinged with warning, "Maddox, when

sat Sasha and Vivienne, even his eldest son Luke had taken a

found himself at the forefront, basking in the

at the sight,

Sasha's visiting. If you keep that mouth open any longer, you'll start drooling."

"Willa, try this, and this. You're

bother to

to strike gold? You, as the big brother, better get ready to shower them with

at Maddox, his sarcasm unfiltered, "Him? I'm afraid the gifts would rot in

"Don't underestimate him, big brother. Maddox has really stepped up his game.

way Maddox spoke to Willa earlier moved me. Why don't you two just get married already?"

these people really think he