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.

with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial

Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look in his

are you plotting

snapped back to reality, pinched Vivienne’s face playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to properly attend to the

hard he nearly flew

Percival, a cat just dashed

his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t a mission

I demand a task swap. I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and get blown to bits if

thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver for Vivienne

She had only been

he would take

lap, felt a stir in his heart,

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Sea City?” Diana Perez was having

she’s busy and might not visit the Perez family. He said not

the Perez family, she had never received such

foster granddaughter was

she had called Jasper to check in, and all he talked about was his

It was maddening!

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

…

awakened by a frantic call

up after the water ceremony yesterday.

intense one might think

the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which only added

had

sharing the sprawling

beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be bedridden forever, all because

isn’t someone you

Percival use her full

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

made Mara seethe with

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 treat an