The Million-Dollar Heart

Percival casually snapped off a twig and flicked away the power line in his path. Thankfully, he was in the garden; otherwise, he would have had to endure a jolt of electricity. But Finnian's test was not something to be taken lightly.

No sooner had Percival tossed aside the twig than a snake, tongue flickering, shot towards him along the branch.

That did it. Percival was livid. He grabbed the snake by its body and slammed it to the ground.

But as he did, something felt off.

Why was this snake so light?

Frowning, he glanced back at the pit he had passed and the discarded power line.

He decided to shut his eyes, ignoring anything else he might touch or sense.

Thirty seconds later, Percival reached the garden fence. With a firm kick, the fence collapsed. Only then did he open his eyes and turn to see that there was neither pit nor snake-just projections from a high- tech projector!

Finnian possessed the same kind of cutting-edge projector that Karen had been researching!

Percival's gaze sharpened, and some thoughts in his mind were now confirmed beyond doubt.

The only problem was the lack of evidence.

Stepping over the fallen fence, he approached the villa's main gate.

With the delay, Finnian was long gone.

Percival exhaled a sigh of resignation. When Vivienne woke up, she was going to be furious.

He would have to think of a way to sweet-talk her.

heard a loud noise behind him. It

If Vivienne was up, the eight still

trick like that won't fool me. Did you catch

fast. I couldn't

him cough up 800 billion!" Vivienne said with a vengeful tone before slipping her arm through Percival's. "Mr. Wolf, let's head back." Percival gave Vivienne a

Vivienne flopped onto the couch, half-sinking into it, and sighed, "After all that, I can't sleep. Mr.

Percival's favorite whiskey from the cabinet and poured two glasses, her eyes shimmering as she looked at him. Holding out a glass, she stretched out her leg and hooked Percival's, her lips glistening in the

lying down?" Vivienne was startled,

fell and shattered, and

no hint of flirtation, only threat

who the

her eyes quickly lost their luster, like a light suddenly snuffed

realized the truth when he lifted the person

It was a robot!

mouth opened, and a scroll fell that read, [Congratulations, you've passed the second trial. This is your reward.] Holding the scroll in his hand,

this another of

a test of his

Vivienne, whom he naturally desired. If he felt nothing for

carried the faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where the real Vivienne was still sound

even Vivienne had succumbed

his immunity was part of

Vivienne's room, leaning against the robot double,

Rivenwood, Finnian relaxed on a sun lounger while

a good eye and steady nerves. Looks like he knew from the start that the Vivienne replica was not the real deal." Finnian nodded approvingly, pleased with Percival's performance

it was time to think about

man curved his lips in a silent smile, seemingly privy to the previous night's

the unfinished bionic robot in a nearby room. "Aren't you worried about sending this out? What if the girl finds