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.

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

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

are you plotting

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

Thomas slammed on the brakes so hard he nearly flew

just dashed across

are Percival and his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t

swap. I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and

the car, thinking maybe Maddox

cheeks turned crimson. She had only

he would

watched the flushed face on his lap, felt a stir in

…

At the Perez Mansion.

has arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner when she

and might not

the Perez family, she had never received

mere foster granddaughter was getting all the

yesterday, she had called Jasper to check in, and all he talked about was his foster

It was maddening!

bent her fork before regaining her composure and smiling. “Vivienne’s here, and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where she’s staying when you have a

…

morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic call from

water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and

sobs were so intense one might

the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which only added to

too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room

mind sharing the sprawling king-sized

I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be

isn’t someone you should talk

her full name, Mara was taken

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

made Mara seethe with

the other side of the room, Hayden took the phone and said, “Percival, it’s Uncle Hayden. Your grandma’s situation is definitely because of Vivienne. We all know she’s the matriarch, but come