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.

Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and had

observing the scheming

are

thinking about how to properly attend to

the brakes so hard he nearly flew

Percival, a cat just dashed across the

his lady now discussing such explosive topics?

a task swap. I’d rather guard Griffin’s bomb factory and get blown to bits if I have to!”

in the car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a new driver for Vivienne and

had only

would take

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

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

arrived. Master Maddox mentioned she’s busy and might not visit the Perez

years with the Perez family, she had never received such

granddaughter was getting

to check in, and

It was maddening!

her composure and smiling. “Vivienne’s here, and I really should visit her. Please

…

awakened by a frantic call from

is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t

were so intense one might think it was a life-or-death

of Vivienne next

be too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his

mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

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

Vivienne isn’t someone you

full name, Mara was taken

called her Mara. His sternness, especially over Vivienne, stunned

made Mara seethe

of Vivienne. We all know she’s the matriarch, but come