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 his

embrace, observing the

what are

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

brakes so hard he nearly flew out of his

just dashed

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

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

the car, thinking maybe Maddox should consider

had

he would take her

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 the

might not visit the Perez family. He said

clenched her fork tightly. Despite her years with the Perez family, she had never

granddaughter was getting all the

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

It was maddening!

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

…

Percival was awakened

Grandma’s back is acting up after the water ceremony

so intense one might think it was

got out of bed, missing the warmth of Vivienne next to him, which

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

not mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

“Percival, are you listening? I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be bedridden forever, all because of that

Vivienne isn’t someone you should talk about like

full name, Mara was

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

Mara seethe with

Uncle Hayden. Your grandma’s situation is definitely because of Vivienne. We all know she’s the