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.

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

in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look

what are you

thinking about how to properly attend to the matriarch

so hard he nearly flew out of his

a cat just dashed across

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

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

car, thinking maybe Maddox

cheeks turned crimson. She had only been

would take

a stir in his heart, and leaned

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

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

Despite her years with the Perez family,

granddaughter was getting all

she had called Jasper to check in,

It was maddening!

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

…

morning, Percival was awakened by a frantic

up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and

might think it was a

got out of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next

too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed with

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

you should talk about

her full

and he had always called her Mara. His sternness,

thought made Mara seethe with

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