The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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

"No way, the way you looked atyesterday, 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 tofort 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.

When had Willa ever been this forward with him? Seeing his reaction, Willa felt even more convinced of her decision, leaning in to ask, "Maddox, do you want to kiss me?" Maddox's mind went blank.

His face flushed to the roots of his neck, his intense focus solely on Willa's words and those lips so close to his.

He sincerely admitted, "Yes!" Willa blushed, closing her eyes.

Maddox swallowed hard, his excitement palpable as he pulled her closer, about to lean in.

At the last moment, Willa suddenly remembered something, lifting her hand to stop him, "Hold on, the wedding can wait, but not right now, I... I'm not ready yet." Maddox nodded eagerly, "Yeah, yeah, take all the tyou need." His wife had agreed, was treally an issue? So, can we kiss now? Willa closed her eyes again, only to open them a second later, "You were sitting there earlier, looking a bit off... Are you okay?" Maddox blinked, quickly shaking his head, "I'm fine, just had a lot on my mind. By the way, Willa, how did you know I was here?" Willa pointed towards the living room, "Vivienne said you were losing it, so I cto check on you." Maddox, "..." That nephew of his, always taking a dig at him.

As he was about to reflect on this, he suddenly felt arms wrap tightly around his neck, a voice tinged with warning, "Maddox, when you kiss me, don't think about anything else." At the family lunch, Jasper took the head of the table.

Beside him sat Sasha and Vivienne, even his eldest son Luke had taken a back seat with his wife.

Arthur, due to his wife's connection, found himself at the forefront, basking in the Perez family's limelight for once, his smile never waning.

Luke shook his head at the sight, only to catch Maddox's silly grin.

He couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Maddox, you don't have to be this ecstatic just because Sasha's visiting. If you keep that mouth open any longer, you'll start drooling." Maddox turned and huffed, "Mind your own business." Then, turning back to Willa, his demeanor changed instantly, "Willa, try this, and this. You're too thin; you need to eat up." Luke couldn't bother to argue.

Carmen nudged him, "Can't you see Maddox is about to strike gold? You, as the big brother, better get ready to shower them with gifts. Don't let us down and tarnish the Perez family's reputation." Luke glanced at Maddox, his sarcasm unfiltered, "Him? I'm afraid the gifts would rot in storage before he ever wins Willa over." Alice chimed in, "Don't underestimate him, big brother. Maddox has really stepped up his game. He's all man now!" Zelda laughed along, "Exactly! The way Maddox spoke to Willa earlier moved me. Why don't you two just get married already?" Maddox, "..." Did these people really think he and Willa...

Just as he was about to squash the speculation, Jasper suddenly asked, "Marriage? What marriage?" Sasha, seizing the moment, diverted the conversation, "Dad, I think it's tto discuss Maddox and Willa's marriage. They're not getting any younger, and we can't keep putting it off." Jasper nodded in agreement.

Both being his children, he was more than happy to see them together.

But one thing needed clarification.

Jasper's eyes sharpened as he looked directly at his son, "Willa was hesitant just yesterday. When did she agree? Maddox, you didn't pressure her, did you?" Maddox, "..." Did he have any privacy in this family at all? Yuri couldn't help but laugh, "Dad, you're giving Maddox too much credit. If Willa hadn't agreed, he wouldn't dare!" Jasper accepted this, then gently asked, "Willa, are you sure about him? If not, I can keep an eye out for more options. If not in Rivenwood, we can look elsewhere." Maddox was in a panic, quickly pulling Willa into his arms to shield her, "Dad,e on! Who acts like this? I've been chasing her for over a decade and you don't care at all. Lettell you, Willa won't give anyone else the tof day; she's only got eyes for me." Everyone around couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Jasper, with a stern expression and a tone far from joking, said, "Letmake this clear to you too, Maddox If Willa even has a shred of doubt, we're not just talking about calling off the wedding, I wouldn't even bother with you." Maddox felt like crying.

He had lost all standing in this family. How was he supposed to protect Willa now? The more he thought about it, the sadder he got. Hugging Willa, he started bawling, "Willa, from now on, you're all I have. They're all picking on me. You have to protect me." Willa gently patted his head and hummed in agreement, "From now on, I'll protect you!"