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.

back, he heard a loud

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

"A little trick like that won't fool me. Did you

Finnian was too fast. I

I get my hands on him, I'll make him cough up 800 billion!" Vivienne said with a vengeful tone before slipping her arm through Percival's. "Mr.

couch, half-sinking into it, and sighed, "After all that, I can't sleep. Mr. Wolf, let's have a drink." Standing before her

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

loosened 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,

shattered, and Vivienne found herself pinned

hint of flirtation, only

who the

quickly lost their luster, like

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

It was a robot!

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 in his hand,

another

it a test of his

this was Vivienne, whom he naturally desired. If he

carried the faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where

strong; even Vivienne

immunity was part of

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

relaxed on a sun lounger while a man

kid's got a good eye and steady nerves. Looks like he knew from the start that the Vivienne replica was not the

to think about the

silent smile, seemingly privy to the previous

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