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.

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

in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look in his

Wolf, what are

said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to properly attend to the matriarch tonight to ensure

so hard he nearly flew

Percival, a cat just dashed across

and his lady now discussing such explosive topics?

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

privacy screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox

She had only been teasing

he would take

face on his lap, felt a stir in

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner when she overheard

busy and might

fork tightly. Despite her years with the Perez family, she had never received such attention from her

mere foster granddaughter was getting

check in, and all he talked

It was maddening!

here, and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where

…

was awakened by

the water ceremony yesterday.

might think

Vivienne next to him, which only added to

sometimes; she had cleared his room

did not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

are you listening? I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be

isn’t someone you

full name, Mara was

always called her Mara. His sternness,

Mara

phone and said, “Percival, it’s Uncle Hayden. Your grandma’s situation is definitely because of Vivienne. We all know she’s