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.

to dine with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission

Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look

Wolf, what are

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

on the brakes so hard he nearly

just dashed across

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

I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory

lowered the privacy screen in the car, thinking maybe

crimson. She had only been teasing

knew he would take her

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Diana Perez was having dinner

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

the Perez family,

foster granddaughter was

Jasper to check in, and all he talked

It was maddening!

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

…

morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic

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

might think it was a life-or-death

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

could be too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room in

mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

even more frantic, “Percival, are you listening? I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be bedridden forever, all because

you should talk

use her full name, Mara was

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

Mara

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