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

embrace, observing the scheming look in

Wolf, what are you

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

the brakes so hard he nearly

a cat just dashed across the

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

rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and get blown to bits if I have to!”

thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver for Vivienne and

crimson. She had only

knew he would

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez

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

her years with the Perez family, she had never

granddaughter was getting all the

she had called Jasper to check in, and all he talked

It was maddening!

and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox

…

was awakened by a

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

might think it was a life-or-death

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

she had

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized

I’m beside myself here.

Boyd, Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk about like

full name, Mara was

always been close, and he had always called her Mara.

thought made Mara seethe

situation is definitely because of Vivienne. We all