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.

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

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look

what are

face playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to

on the brakes so hard he nearly

just dashed across the

such explosive topics? This

Griffin’s bomb factory and get

discreetly lowered the privacy screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver for

cheeks turned crimson. She had only been

he would take her

watched the flushed face on his lap, felt a stir in his heart, and leaned down to kiss the blushing

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner when she overheard the servants discussing

has arrived. Master Maddox mentioned she’s busy and might not visit the

her years with the Perez family,

foster granddaughter was getting all the

Jasper to check in, and

It was maddening!

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

…

was awakened by a

acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t get up. What should we

intense one might think it

of Vivienne next to him,

too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room

the sprawling king-sized bed with

remained silent, Mara grew even more frantic, “Percival, are you listening? I’m beside

Vivienne isn’t someone you should

Percival use her full name, Mara

been close, and he had always called her Mara. His

thought made Mara

definitely because of Vivienne. We all know she’s the matriarch, but come on, Grandma’s an elder.