The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 408

Kala felt a ripple of anxiety; she certainly did not want the Brooks family to become tabloid fodder again.

It was not about her rising career but the desire to preserve the harmonious unity of the Brooks family from fragmenting into scandal.

Vivienne's gaze dropped slightly before she spoke softly, "There's a bit of an issue."

Kala's heart clenched with worry. "Vivienne, please tell me it's not something to do with Dad..."

Her words stumbled out of her, knotted with nerves.

No, it could not be!

Her father was the epitome of kindness, incapable of harming a soul.

Though she tried to reassure herself, Kala's palms were drenched with sweat from her mounting tension.

"Let's discuss it when he gets back," Vivienne said as she sat down and pulled out her phone to call Timothy, telling him to return home.

Meanwhile, with Cheryl's support, Baron made his way out of his room.

Kala rushed to help Baron down the stairs, her mind racing with apprehension.

She had no clue what would unfold next.

But she was certain that whatever was about to happen would once again turn the Brooks family upside down.

"Vivienne, what's on your mind?" Baron asked, his aged eyes betraying a hint of guilt.

Vivienne smiled faintly. "Let's wait until everyone's here."

Baron did not press further, but his grip on his cane tightened, his hand slick with anxious perspiration.

Soon, Timothy and Ronald returned, and alongside them walked Ashley with her brother Darren and Melissa in tow.

With the Brooks family gathered, silence fell, all eyes on Vivienne and Percival.

Darren kept glancing at Leopold, seeking clues as to what was happening.

Leopold simply shrugged; he was clueless about the announcement Vivienne was about to make. After all, he was just the chauffeur!

Baron exhaled deeply. "Vivienne, the family's all here. Whatever you need to say, go ahead."

Vivienne scanned the room, finally fixing her gaze on Percival, her clear eyes shimmering with feigned confusion. "Mr. Wolf, am I bad at counting? It seems like not everyone's present, right?"

Percival could not help but chuckle at her expression, playfully pinching her cheek. "Indeed, not everyone."

Ashley frowned. "Vivienne, what are you up to? We're all quite busy, and frankly, we don't have time to watch you two flirt."

Ashley and Vivienne's relationship had never been overly warm, but certainly not as strained as it was with Arabella.

Since Vivienne's return, she had not caused any trouble for Ashley, allowing a peaceful coexistence. But ever since Vivienne aired some family secrets about her grandmother, Ashley found her increasingly irritating.

Ashley hated how Vivienne always seemed to look down on them as if she considered herself better than them.

Vivienne turned her gaze to Baron, her stare unwavering.

Suddenly, she lifted a finger, pointing towards the wardrobe behind Baron, "Why do I feel like there's someone there?"

Baron straightened up instantly, cold sweat breaking out despite his age.

He pushed down the fear in his voice, "That's just a liquor cabinet. How could someone be in there?"

Ashley thought Vivienne was being ridiculous. "Can you stop with the theatrics? If there's something to say, why can't you just say it?"

Darren quickly pulled his sister back, worried she might provoke Vivienne further.

"Vivienne, don't get upset," Darren said with a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, "Ashley's just suggesting the liquor cabinet can’t be hiding someone, that’s all."

Vivienne ignored the comments and simply looked at Leopold.

Leopold understood immediately and approached the cabinet, dismantling it swiftly.

Baron attempted to intervene, but Percival spoke up, his tone detached, "Rivenwood suburb apartment 36, South Ridge Community villa 5, East County Villa 17, Sovereign Community 19-3... Timothy, do any of these addresses ring a bell?"

The direct question took Timothy aback.