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.

next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and had to be handled with

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look

what are you plotting

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

the brakes so hard he nearly flew

just

lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t

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

thinking maybe Maddox should

turned crimson. She had

he would take her

lap, felt a stir in

…

At the Perez Mansion.

arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner

she’s busy and might not visit the

with the Perez family, she had never received such attention from

foster granddaughter was getting all the

in, and all he talked

It was maddening!

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

…

Percival was awakened by a

after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s

might think it was

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

she had cleared his room

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

grew even more frantic, “Percival, are you listening? I’m beside myself here. The

you should talk about

Percival use her full name, Mara was

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

made Mara seethe

other side of the room, 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.