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.

to dine with Gillian the next day. Gillian was

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the scheming look in

what are

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

brakes so hard he nearly flew out of

cat just dashed across

his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t a mission — it’s a

bomb factory and get blown to

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

cheeks turned crimson. She had only

knew he would

the flushed face on his lap, felt a stir in his heart, and leaned down to kiss the blushing

…

At the Perez Mansion.

arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez

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

tightly. Despite her years with the Perez family, she

foster granddaughter was getting all

called Jasper to check in, and all he talked about

It was maddening!

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 call

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

one might think it was a

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

could be too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room in just

did not mind sharing the

“Percival, are you listening? I’m beside

you should talk about like

Percival use her full name, Mara was

had always been close, and he had always called her

made Mara seethe with

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 old lady