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

Vivienne was up, the eight still out cold would

that won't fool me. Did

too fast. I

If 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.

all that, I can't sleep. Mr. Wolf, let's have a

picked 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 the dim light, enticing beyond words. "Mr. Wolf, do you want me to sit in your lap while

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 down hard on

and Vivienne found herself pinned

hint of flirtation, only threat and

the hell

eyes quickly lost their luster, like

the truth

It was a robot!

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

test of his resistance to

he felt nothing

faux Vivienne to her bedroom, where the real

sedative was indeed strong; even Vivienne

immunity was part of this so-called

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

a mansion somewhere in Rivenwood, Finnian relaxed on a sun lounger

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

time to think

lips in a silent

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