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.

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

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

trick like that won't fool

fast. I couldn't keep

cough up 800 billion!" Vivienne said with a vengeful tone before slipping her

onto the couch, half-sinking into it, and sighed, "After all that, I can't sleep. Mr. Wolf, let's have

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

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

and Vivienne found herself pinned under

was no hint of flirtation, only threat

who the hell are

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

and only realized the truth when

It was a robot!

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 in his hand, Percival was

another of

a test of his

If he felt nothing for Vivienne,

the faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where the real Vivienne

indeed strong; even Vivienne had succumbed to

was part of this so-called

room, leaning against the robot

a sun lounger

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

was time to think about

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

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