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.

Gillian the next day. Gillian was a

in Percival’s embrace, observing the

Wolf, what are you

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

hard

cat just dashed across

goodness, are Percival and his lady now discussing such

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

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

turned crimson. She had

knew he would

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

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

Perez family, she

granddaughter was getting

called Jasper to check in, and all

It was maddening!

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

…

next morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic call from

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

the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which

had cleared his

the sprawling

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

Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk

use her full name, Mara was taken

had always been close, and he had always called

Mara seethe with

of Vivienne. We all know she’s the matriarch, but come