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 had

observing the scheming look in his

what are you

and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to properly attend to the matriarch tonight to

on the brakes so hard he nearly flew out

cat just dashed

now discussing such explosive topics?

Sterling, I demand a task swap. I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and get

car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver for Vivienne

crimson. She had

would take her

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Vivienne has arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner when she

might not visit the Perez family. He said not to prepare

clenched her fork tightly. Despite her years with the Perez family,

foster granddaughter was getting all

she had called Jasper to check in,

It was maddening!

I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where she’s staying

…

morning, Percival was awakened

after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s

sobs were so intense one might think

the warmth of Vivienne next

too efficient sometimes; she had

the sprawling king-sized bed

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

someone you should talk about

full name, Mara was taken

had always been close, and he had always called her Mara. His sternness, especially over Vivienne,

thought made Mara seethe with

room, Hayden took the phone and 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, Grandma’s an elder. You can’t