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

observing the scheming

are you plotting

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

the brakes so hard he

just dashed across the

and his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This

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

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

crimson. She had

would take her

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

“Yes, she has arrived. Master Maddox mentioned she’s busy and might not visit the Perez family. He said

the Perez family,

foster granddaughter was

yesterday, she had called 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 she’s staying when you have a

…

next morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic call from

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

were so intense one might think it

out of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which only added to his

efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room in just

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed with

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

Vivienne isn’t someone you

Percival use her full name, Mara was taken

always called her Mara.

Mara

“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.