The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Eliza had just tucked Wendy in when she bolted out the door.

“Hold on a sec, Percival!” she called out.

Percival was about to slide into his car when he heard his name being called. He turned around and asked, “What?”

Eliza tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Percival, we haven’t had a proper chat in ages. Can we catch up the day after tomorrow, maybe over dinner?”

Percival squinted slightly. “What’s on your mind, Eliza?”

She chuckled awkwardly, “I just wanted to talk to you about your mother, my sister, you know?”

Percival gazed at Eliza, his thoughts concealed by the dim light around them.

After a moment, he said with a deep voice, “Day after tomorrow it is.”

Eliza then pulled out something from her pocket, handed it to Percival without explanation, and headed back to the Boyd residence.

In the car, Vivienne sniffed the object curiously.

It was an antidote for some love potion!

“Why did she give you this?” Vivienne was puzzled.

Could it be that Eliza, a member of the Boyd family, did not want Gillian to marry into Percival?

Percival chuckled. “She probably wants to curry favor.”

Vivienne nodded in understanding. “So, are you going to accept this favor or not?”

“Absolutely,” Percival said, wrapping his arm around Vivienne and rubbing her shoulder, “It wouldn’t be fun otherwise. Can’t be completely uninvolved with the Boyds during this time.”

Percival had come to Sea City on a mission, and getting close to the Boyds was just a cover.

He needed to entangle himself with them when necessary to mask his true purpose better.

Now that his enemies were hidden and he was exposed, he had to tread carefully.

Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and

in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look in

what are you

Vivienne’s face playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking

brakes so hard he

a cat just dashed across

Percival and his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t a mission — it’s a

swap. I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and

maybe Maddox should

crimson. She had

would

stir in his heart, and leaned

…

At the Perez Mansion.

City?” Diana Perez

nodded. “Yes, she has arrived. Master Maddox mentioned she’s busy and might

years with the Perez family, she

granddaughter was getting all the

check in,

It was maddening!

fork before regaining her composure and smiling. “Vivienne’s here, and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox

…

next morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic call

back is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t get

sobs were so intense one might think it was a life-or-death

got out of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next to him,

could be too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room in just one

not mind sharing the sprawling

Percival remained silent, Mara grew even more frantic, “Percival, are you listening? I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be bedridden forever,

you

use her full name, Mara was

called

made Mara seethe

said, “Percival, it’s Uncle Hayden. Your grandma’s situation is definitely because of Vivienne. We all know she’s the matriarch, but come on,