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

Percival exclaimed, relieved. If Vivienne was up, the eight still out cold would get an earful,

little trick like that won't fool

was too fast. I couldn't

with a vengeful tone before slipping her arm through Percival's. "Mr. Wolf, let's head back." Percival gave Vivienne a once-over.

all that, I can't sleep. Mr. Wolf, let's have a drink."

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 dim light, enticing beyond words. "Mr. Wolf,

sleeves with a decisive motion. "Or maybe, drink lying down?" Vivienne was startled, but in the

and shattered, and

hint of

who the hell are

blinked, and her eyes quickly lost their luster, like

and only realized the truth when he

It was a robot!

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 is your reward.] Holding the scroll in his hand, Percival was momentarily

this another

test of his resistance

If he felt

carried the faux Vivienne to her bedroom,

sedative was indeed strong; even Vivienne

his immunity was part of this so-called

in Vivienne's room, leaning against the

a mansion somewhere in Rivenwood, Finnian relaxed on a sun lounger while

like he knew from the start that the Vivienne replica was not the real deal." Finnian nodded approvingly, pleased with Percival's performance in the

to think about the

man curved his lips in a silent

the unfinished bionic robot in a nearby room. "Aren't you worried about sending this