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.

agreed to dine with Gillian the next day. Gillian was

rested in Percival’s embrace, observing the

are you plotting

thinking about how to properly attend to the matriarch tonight

so hard he nearly flew out of

a cat just dashed across the

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

bomb factory and get blown to bits if I have

maybe Maddox should consider a

She had only been

would take

a stir

…

At the Perez Mansion.

City?” Diana Perez was having dinner when

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

Perez family, she had never received such attention from

mere foster granddaughter was

she had called Jasper to check in, and all he talked about was

It was maddening!

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

…

was awakened by a frantic

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

sobs were so intense one might think it was a

got out of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next

too efficient sometimes; she had cleared his room in just

did not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized

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

Vivienne isn’t someone you

use her full name, Mara was taken

been close, and he had always called her Mara. His

Mara

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