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.

with Gillian the next day. Gillian was a crucial player in his mission and

embrace, observing the scheming look

are you plotting

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

so hard he nearly flew out

Percival, a cat just dashed across the

and his lady now discussing such explosive topics? This isn’t

bomb factory and get blown

the car, thinking maybe

turned crimson. She had

knew he would take her

flushed face on his lap, felt a stir in his heart, and leaned down

…

At the Perez Mansion.

that Vivienne has arrived in Sea City?” Diana Perez

and might not visit the Perez family. He said not to prepare or

her years with the Perez family,

was

Jasper to check in, and

It was maddening!

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

…

next morning, Percival was awakened by a

is acting up after the water ceremony yesterday. She’s bedridden

intense one might think

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

sometimes; she had cleared his room

mind sharing the sprawling king-sized bed

I’m beside myself here. The doctor said Grandma might be

isn’t someone you should talk

her full name, Mara was

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

Mara seethe with

other side of the room, Hayden took the 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