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.

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

in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming

are

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

Thomas slammed on the brakes so hard he nearly

a cat just dashed across

lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t

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

the privacy screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver for Vivienne and

had

he would take her

a stir in his heart, and leaned

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

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

with the Perez family, she had

granddaughter was

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

It was maddening!

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

…

Percival was awakened by a frantic

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

intense one might think it was a life-or-death

missing the warmth of Vivienne next

sometimes; she had cleared his room

did not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized

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

Boyd, Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk about like

full name, Mara was taken

always been close, and he had always called her

Mara

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 old lady like