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

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the

Wolf, what are you plotting

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

slammed on the brakes so hard he

cat just dashed across the

his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t a mission — it’s

I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and get blown to bits

car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a

She had only been teasing Mara,

knew he would

a stir

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Perez was having

nodded. “Yes, she has arrived. Master Maddox mentioned she’s busy and might not visit

clenched her fork tightly. Despite her years with the Perez family,

was getting all

Jasper to check in, and all he talked about was

It was maddening!

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

…

was awakened

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

one might think it

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

had cleared his room

the

more frantic, “Percival, are you listening? I’m beside myself

Boyd, Vivienne isn’t someone you should

her full name, Mara was taken

he had always called her Mara. His sternness, especially

Mara seethe

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