The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 563

Next to Jasper, Diana bit her lower lip in frustration.

Was Maddox being too obvious?

It was as if he were broadcasting to the world that he disliked her!

It was outrageous, completely outrageous!

Diana took several deep breaths to compose herself and turned to Vivienne with a smile. “Vivienne, I rushed over here and didn’t have time to pick up a gift for you. How about we hit the shops later, and anything you fancy, it’s on me.”

“No, that’s alright, I don’t need anything,” Vivienne replied, eager to keep her distance.

For some reason, Vivienne always felt uneasy around Diana. It was not just because Diana was adopted into the Perez family; there was something off-putting about her.

Maybe it was what people called 'bad vibes.'

Diana moved closer, eagerly grabbing Vivienne’s hand again. “Vivienne, don’t be like that with me. Even if you’ve got everything, one more thing won’t hurt. Us girls can never have too many treats, right, Zelda?”

Zelda looked up from her book and said, “Absolutely, I’ll tag along. I always believe in the more the merrier when it comes to my closet.”

Yuri coughed, glancing at the pile of unopened shopping bags near Zelda.

Yeah, the more the merrier.

Diana forced a laugh, but with Zelda jumping in, she could not very well refuse. “Alright, let’s go together.”

While she appeared enthusiastic, Diana was fuming inside.

What was Zelda up to?

Was she worried about Vivienne going out alone with her?

Ha! The nerve, thinking she was a true Perez through and through!

Seeing Zelda on board, Vivienne had no more excuses to decline.

Percival, jingling his car keys, chimed in, “I’d be honored to chauffeur three lovely ladies today.”

“Thanks a bunch,” Diana responded with a smile.

After Vivienne finished checking Jasper’s health, the group set off for a shopping spree.

Standing in the yard, Maddox turned off the grill, “Yuri, keep an eye on your wife. She's got a knack for turning our home into a disaster zone.”

“We’ll just buy a new one if that happens,” Yuri muttered, shutting off the whipped cream maker.

Jasper addressed his sons, “You two, give Diana a break. She was quite embarrassed earlier. As her brothers, try not to be so hard on her.”

Maddox scratched his ear. “Dad, speaking of Diana, there’s something you need to know.”

“Go on.”

“She’s been snooping around your will, and there was some tampering with Willa’s paternity test. Diana was the only one who had contact with Willa then, and I suspect she’s behind it. We just lack the proof.”

Jasper leaned forward, a look of shock crossing his face. But what stunned him was not Diana’s meddling with the will or the test; it was that the paternity test results could be fake!

Jasper, clearly agitated, began to cough, and Yuri quickly stepped forward to comfort him. “Dad, don’t get worked up. Maddox said we don’t have proof against Diana yet. We’re still investigating.”

Jasper took Yuri’s hand, steadying himself. “Do you boys mean to say that Vivienne might actually be my biological granddaughter?”

Maddox knelt, looking up at his father earnestly. “Yes. Ever since I first laid eyes on Vivienne, I felt she had to be my niece. Dad, you’re not the only one who has that hunch, which is why I doubt the paternity test.”

Yuri nodded. “Right, Dad. Should we redo the test?”

After a moment, Jasper decided. “Do it again, but keep it under wraps. No one at home should know, not even Zelda. Handle it discreetly in Rivenwood.”

Since there was a mole at home, they would keep it a secret from everyone in their family.