Chapter 676

Alexandra gasped. "It's so lifelike! The fur feels just like the real thing. And it's warm too. If it didn't talk, I'd swear this was an actual tiger!"

Evelyn Sinclair smirked, raising an eyebrow. She'd had the same reaction when she first met Leo.

"Where did you get this robotic tiger?" Alexandra pressed, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Evelyn's expression darkened. "It was a gift."

"From who?" Alexandra leaned in eagerly.

Silence stretched between them. Evelyn shot her cousin a cold look, her smile vanishing. Her silence was answer enough—she wasn't pleased with the prying.

But Alexandra, ever tactless, pushed further. "If it's just a gift, why not give it to me? It's adorable! If I post about it online, it'll go viral for sure!"

Evelyn's lips thinned. Her voice turned icy. "It was given to me. I don’t just hand over personal gifts."

Alexandra scoffed. "Come on, the Sterlings could buy a hundred of these. You could even get a real tiger if you wanted. Why be so stingy over a robot?"

Evelyn's smile turned glacial. "What I want is what matters. Now, give Leo back." She held out her hand, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Alexandra hesitated, clutching Leo tighter and stepping back. She wasn’t giving up that easily. "Evelyn, your father’s always been generous with us. Let’s ask Uncle William—he’ll let me have it!"

She was banking on William Sterling’s kindness—after all, he’d paid for her overseas education without hesitation. Surely a robotic tiger was nothing in comparison.

Evelyn’s face hardened. No pleasantries left.

"Give. It. Back." Her outstretched hand didn’t waver. The air around her turned frigid.

Alexandra faltered, but the thought of going viral with this tiger was too tempting. She hugged Leo tighter, spun on her heel, and bolted for the stairs.

Emily Whitaker, who had been watching the scene with amusement, finally stood, slamming her hands on the table.

"Little traitor! You gonna let yourself get kidnapped without a fight? Where’s your pride?"

In a flash, Leo snapped to attention. With a fierce twist, he wrenched free from Alexandra’s grip and leaped straight into Evelyn’s arms.

"I’m a fierce tiger!" he declared, puffing out his mechanical chest.

Evelyn exhaled, stroking his head approvingly. Good. He had some fight in him after all.

Alexandra’s arms were empty. She stared at the scratch on her forearm, her face paling before flushing with outrage.

"You—you scratched me?!"

Leo had been forced into attack mode to escape her death grip. Now, he lifted his chin proudly.

"Attack level one. Combat power level one. Reaction speed—maximum. I’m a smart tiger, and I don’t go home with strangers!"

Emily smirked. "My designs aren’t just for show. If it can’t defend itself, how’s it supposed to be king of the jungle?"

Alexandra’s eyes widened. "You designed this?"

Then it hit her—William had introduced Emily as a world-class scientist earlier. Reality crashed down.

"Then… can you make me one? A gentler version?"

Emily arched a brow. "You paying for it?"

Alexandra hesitated. "Uh… money?"