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.

he heard a loud

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

"A little trick like that won't fool

too fast. I

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

and sighed, "After all that, I can't sleep. Mr.

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, do you want me to sit

decisive motion. "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

shattered, and Vivienne found

was no hint of

the hell are

their luster, like a

aback and only realized the truth

It was a robot!

astounded. How could a robot be indistinguishable from a real person, 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 is your reward.] Holding the scroll

another

it a test of his

was Vivienne, whom he naturally desired. If he felt

carried the faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where

was indeed strong; even Vivienne had succumbed to

his immunity was part of this

settled himself in Vivienne's room, leaning against the robot double,

Finnian relaxed on a sun

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

time to

silent smile, seemingly privy to the previous

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