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.

was about to head back, he heard a loud noise behind

Percival exclaimed, relieved. If Vivienne was up, the eight

little trick like that won't fool me. Did

Finnian was too fast. I

said with a vengeful tone before slipping her arm through Percival's. "Mr. Wolf, let's head back."

half-sinking into it, and sighed, "After all that, I can't sleep. Mr. Wolf, let's have a drink." Standing before

looked at him. Holding out a glass, she stretched out her leg and hooked Percival's, her lips glistening in the dim light, enticing beyond words. "Mr. Wolf,

"Or maybe, drink lying down?" Vivienne was startled, but in the next instant, Percival had flicked her leg aside, and his elbow came down hard on

shattered, and Vivienne

was no hint of

the

eyes quickly lost their luster, like

and only realized the truth when he

It was a robot!

even mimicking Vivienne's tone of voice? Then the robot's mouth opened, and a scroll fell that read, [Congratulations, you've passed the second trial. This

this another of Finnian's

a test of

desired. If he felt nothing for Vivienne, that would be a real

carried the faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where

was indeed strong; even Vivienne had succumbed

his immunity was part of

leaning against the robot double, and

Finnian relaxed on a sun lounger while a man applied ointment to

steady nerves. Looks like he knew from the start that the Vivienne replica was not the

it was time to think about the third

in a silent smile, seemingly

in a nearby room. "Aren't you worried about sending this out? What if