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.

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

observing the scheming look in his

are you plotting

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

so hard he nearly flew

a cat just dashed

such explosive

Griffin’s bomb factory and get blown to bits if

screen in the car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider a

crimson. She had only been teasing Mara, after

would

on his lap, felt a stir in his heart, and leaned

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Diana Perez was having dinner when

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

with the Perez family, she had never received such

foster granddaughter was getting

check in, and all he

It was maddening!

I really should visit her. Please

…

next morning, Percival was awakened by

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

sobs were so intense one might think

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

sometimes; she had cleared

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

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

you should talk about

full name, Mara

always called her Mara. His sternness, especially over

thought made Mara seethe with

situation is definitely because of