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.

Percival had agreed to dine with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial player

embrace, observing

what are you plotting

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

slammed on the brakes so hard he nearly

a cat just dashed

now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t

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

thinking maybe Maddox should consider a

had only been teasing Mara,

knew he would take

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Diana Perez was having dinner when she overheard the

busy and might

her years with the Perez family,

was

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

…

morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic call from

Grandma’s back is acting up after the water ceremony

might think it was a

got out of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next

sometimes; she had cleared

the sprawling

you listening? I’m beside myself

Boyd, Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk

use her full name, Mara was taken

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

made Mara

Hayden took the phone and said, “Percival, it’s Uncle Hayden. Your grandma’s situation is definitely because of Vivienne.