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 him.

awake," Percival exclaimed, relieved. If Vivienne was up, the eight still out

trick like that won't fool me. Did you catch

too fast.

billion!" Vivienne said with a vengeful tone

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

his 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, Percival had flicked her leg aside, and his elbow came

and Vivienne found herself pinned

was no hint of flirtation, only threat and

the hell are

and her eyes quickly lost their luster, like

was taken aback and only realized the truth

It was a robot!

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 in his hand, Percival

this another of Finnian's

a test of his

Vivienne, whom he naturally desired. If he

carried the faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where the real Vivienne was

strong; even Vivienne had succumbed

his immunity was part of

in Vivienne's room, leaning against the robot double, and dozed

Rivenwood, Finnian relaxed on a sun lounger while a man applied ointment to his

like he knew from the start that the Vivienne replica was not the real deal."

to think about the third

silent smile, seemingly privy to the previous night's

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