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 to

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 about how to properly attend to the

Thomas slammed on the brakes so hard he nearly flew

just dashed across the

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

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

the privacy screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox

cheeks turned crimson. She had only been

knew he would take her

stir in his heart, and leaned down

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Perez was having dinner

“Yes, she has arrived. Master Maddox mentioned she’s busy and might not visit

years with the Perez family, she had

was getting all the

Jasper to check in, and all he talked about was his

It was maddening!

I really should visit her. Please ask

…

Percival was awakened by a frantic call from

Percival! Grandma’s back is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t get up.

so intense one might think it was a

of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which only

sometimes; she had cleared his room in

sharing the sprawling king-sized bed with

are you listening? I’m beside

isn’t someone you

full name, Mara

been close, and he had always called her

made Mara seethe with

of Vivienne. We all know she’s the matriarch, but come on, Grandma’s an elder. You can’t treat an old