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.

why Percival had agreed to dine with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and had to be handled with

in Percival’s embrace, observing the

what are

playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how

brakes so hard he nearly flew out

just

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

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

thinking maybe

crimson. She had only been teasing Mara,

would take

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Perez was having dinner

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

her years with the Perez family, she had

was getting

in, and all he talked about was his foster

It was maddening!

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

…

Percival was awakened by a

ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t get up. What

were so intense one might think it was a

the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which only

too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room in just one

the sprawling

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

Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk

use her full name, Mara

close, and he had always called her Mara. His

Mara seethe

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