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.

day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and had

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming

are

snapped back to reality, pinched Vivienne’s face playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to properly attend to the matriarch tonight

on the brakes so hard he nearly flew out of his

a cat just dashed

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

I demand a task swap. I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory

the privacy screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver

crimson. She had only been

knew he would take her

stir in

…

At the Perez Mansion.

mean that Vivienne has arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner

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

with the Perez family, she had never received such attention from her

mere foster granddaughter was

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

It was maddening!

I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where she’s staying

…

awakened by

terrible, Percival! Grandma’s back is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday.

one might think it was a

Vivienne next to him, which

sometimes; she had cleared his room in

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

grew even more frantic, “Percival, are you listening? I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma

you should talk about

use her full name, Mara was

had always called her

made Mara seethe with

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 on, Grandma’s an elder. You can’t treat an old