The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Abigail had a gift, a rare one that allowed her to read the history etched in bones, beyond the facade of flesh and skin. Her mentor once confessed that even he couldn't unravel the mysteries of Abigail's own skeletal structure. If that was truly the case, then her real age was a mystery, or perhaps, there was another possibility.

Abigail was someone who could alter her own bone structure at will.

Regardless of the scenario.

Any anomaly, and she could spot it.

Percival was well aware of Vivienne's skill in reading bones, yet his grip on his wrist remained reluctant to ease.

Vivienne pursed her lips, willing to compromise further, "How about... Mr. Wolf, you lift the cloth for me? Just exposing a single bone would do, anywhere is fine."

With some reluctance, Percival agreed.

But before he did, he made sure Vivienne wasn't looking.

Approaching the first body, Percival chose an ankle bone, gnawed on by wild animals, exposing stark white bone.

Vivienne was accustomed to such sights, unfazed by the gruesome scene.

Luckily, her nerves held steady, no sign of any nausea despite the grim context.

She snapped back into professional mode in an instant.

Focusing on the bone, she squinted, her mind delving deep.

"This person was in their thirties, showing signs of recent hardships but not a life of constant struggle, a life of thin luck prone to attracting trouble," she deduced. Vivienne frowned slightly, retracting her gaze.

The identity of this person was almost certain.

It was Delilah, who had clung to Abigail during their last encounter, inadvertently saving them.

Vivienne shook her head, "This isn't Abigail."

The unspoken understanding between them meant Percival caught on with just a few words.

Moving to the next body, this time uncovering a hand bone.

Vivienne immediately frowned.

were delicate, belonging to a young girl still in her growth

Certainly not Abigail.

before death. Vivienne inspected closer, her brows knitting together, "She must have

was holding something small, it was well-concealed in

gloves, attempting to pry open the tight grip

"Let me."

marrow through the cloth, then easily opened the clenched hand with tweezers. Inside was

but both Vivienne and Percival recognized

particular reason other than it being a fragment

darkened, securing the fragment on a

did this

Vivienne remained silent.

wasn't wrong, this person was likely attacked from behind by Abigail, who then brutally extracted her

accidentally grabbing the already cracked Millennia Aegis fragment, holding onto it till death. Soon, researchers delivered

DNA was

the other, no corresponding genetic profile could be

her eyes at the fragment for a

instructing, "Release the news about the Millennia

her order,

the whole armor effectively useless, reduced to mere decoration. Vivienne

of Abigail's current whereabouts, Vivienne wouldn't foolishly launch a

so many questions surrounding this body; even if she checked recent missing persons reports, Abigail could easily hide her

common folk to recover, the search area would be

person untraceable in genetic databases could only mean one of two things: either undocumented or personally crafted by

resources on a search for someone capable of changing their appearance with special abilities, better to wait for her to take the bait. The bodies

Delilah's ashes were returned to Cordelia was a form of

for Thomas to drive Vivienne home, while he headed to report to the

heightened attention from higher-ups, the pursuit of

home, Vivienne was greeted by two familiar faces, one tall and

"Vivienne!"

"Vivienne!"