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.

with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the

Wolf, what are you

and said deliberately, “I’m thinking

hard he nearly flew out of

just dashed across the

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

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

screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox

had only been

would take

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

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

her fork tightly. Despite her years with the Perez

granddaughter was getting all

in, and all he talked about

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

…

was awakened by a frantic call

is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden

so intense one might think it was a

of Vivienne next to him, which only added to

efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room

mind sharing the sprawling king-sized

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

you should talk about

use her full name,

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

thought made Mara seethe with

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