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

you're awake," Percival exclaimed, relieved. If Vivienne was up, the eight still out cold

that won't

Finnian was too fast. I

Vivienne said with a vengeful tone before slipping her arm through Percival's.

into it, and sighed, "After all that, I can't sleep. Mr. Wolf, let's have a drink." Standing before her with a steady gaze,

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

tie, revealing an attractive Adam's apple, and rolled up his sleeves with a decisive motion. "Or maybe, drink lying down?" Vivienne was startled, but in the next instant,

shattered, and Vivienne found herself pinned under

hint of flirtation, only threat

who the

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

was taken aback and only realized the truth when he lifted the

It was a robot!

person, even mimicking Vivienne's tone of voice? Then the robot's mouth opened, and a

another of

of his resistance

this was Vivienne, whom he naturally desired. If he felt nothing for Vivienne, that would be

to her bedroom,

even Vivienne

was part

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

a sun

Looks like he knew from the start that the Vivienne replica was not the real deal." Finnian nodded approvingly, pleased

to think about the third

his lips in a silent smile,

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