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.

also why Percival had agreed to dine with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and had to be handled

embrace, observing the scheming look in his

what are you

pinched Vivienne’s face playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to properly

Thomas slammed on the brakes so hard he nearly flew

cat just dashed across

such explosive topics? This isn’t a mission —

bomb factory and get blown

in the car, thinking maybe Maddox should

She had only been

he would take her

face on his lap, felt a stir in his heart, and leaned down to

…

At the Perez Mansion.

in Sea City?” Diana Perez was

and might not visit the Perez family. He said not to prepare or disturb

the Perez family, she had never received such attention from

was getting

in, and all he talked about was

It was maddening!

and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where

…

awakened by

terrible, Percival! Grandma’s back is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t get up. What should we

sobs were so intense one might think

the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which only added

she had cleared

the

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

Boyd, Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk about

her full name, Mara was

always called her Mara. His sternness, especially over Vivienne,

made Mara

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