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.

the next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and had to be handled with

embrace, observing the scheming look in

Wolf, what are you plotting

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

hard he nearly flew out of his

just dashed across the

such explosive topics? This isn’t

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

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

turned crimson. She had only been teasing

he would take

felt a stir

…

At the Perez Mansion.

in Sea City?” Diana Perez was having dinner

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

her years with the Perez family, she had never received such

foster granddaughter was getting all the

check in, and all he talked about was his

It was maddening!

and I really should visit her. Please ask Maddox where she’s

…

Percival was awakened by a frantic

water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden and can’t get up. What should

might think it

of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next to

sometimes; she had cleared his room in

mind sharing the

are you listening? I’m beside

isn’t someone you should

full

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

thought made Mara seethe

phone and said, “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