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.

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

embrace, observing the scheming

Wolf, what are you

pinched Vivienne’s face playfully, and said deliberately, “I’m thinking about how to properly

so hard he nearly flew

cat just dashed across

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

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

thinking maybe Maddox should

turned crimson. She had only been teasing Mara, after

would take

on his lap, felt a stir in

…

At the Perez Mansion.

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

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

Perez family, she

foster granddaughter was getting all

she had called Jasper to check in,

It was maddening!

composure and smiling. “Vivienne’s here, and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where she’s staying when you have a

…

morning, Percival was awakened by a

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

intense one might think it

of Vivienne next to him, which

she had cleared his

the

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

Boyd, Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk about like

use her full name, Mara was taken

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

made Mara seethe

“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