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 topromise further, "How about... Mr. Wolf, you lift the cloth for me? Just exposing a single bone would do, anywhere is fine." With sreluctance, 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 gruesscene.

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 tuncovering a hand bone.

Vivienne immediately frowned.

The phalanges were delicate, belonging to a young girl still in her growth phase.

Certainly not Abigail.

However, the hand was clenched in an unusual posture, as if gripped by immense fear before death. Vivienne inspected closer, her brows knitting together, "She must have been holding something." Percival looked and saw nothing from the outside.

If the girl was holding something small, it was well-concealed in her clenched fist.

He put on gloves, attempting to pry open the tight grip with no success.

"Let me." Without touching the body, Vivienne flicked a silver needle into the elbow's marrow through the cloth, then easily opened the clenched hand with tweezers.

Inside was a fragment.

Tiny, but both Vivienne and Percival recognized it immediately.

Not for any particular reason other than it being a fragment of the Millennia Aegis.

Percival's expression darkened, securing the fragment on a tray, ensuring no mistake.

"How did this end up here?" Vivienne remained silent.

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

In severe agony, the victim must have desperately clutched at her attacker's clothing, accidentally grabbing the already cracked Millennia Aegis fragment, holding onto it till death.

Soon, researchers delivered DNA results.

Delilah's DNA was beyond question.

But the other, no corresponding gic profile could be found.

Vivienne narrowed her eyes at the fragment for a few seconds.

She called over Draven, instructing, "Release the news about the Millennia Aegis fragment, say it's in my possession." Following her order, Draven set off.

Abigail could never have anticipated that her desperately sought Millennia Aegis, once iplete, would render the whole armor effectively useless, reduced to mere decoration.

Vivienne wondered how Abigail would react to this news.

Though uncertain of Abigail's current whereabouts, Vivienne wouldn't foolishly launch a widespread search.

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

Assuming Abigail's disguise amongmon folk to recover, the search area would be immense, easily alarming the quarry.

Moreover, a person untraceable in gic databases could only mean one of two things: either undocumented or personally crafted by Abigail.

Rather than wasting 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 were sent to the ue.

Ensuring Delilah's ashes were returned to Cordelia was a form of solace, a true return to her family roots.

Leaving the lab, Percival arranged for Thomas to drive Vivienne home, while he headed to report to the authorities.

The case's developments warranted heightened attention from higher-ups, the pursuit of the real Abigail ongoing.

Arriving home, Vivienne was greeted by two familiar faces, one tall and one short, eagerly anticipating her descent from the car. "Vivienne!" "Vivienne!" Her surprise evident, Vivienne addressed them, "Mom, Isolde, why didn't you tellyou wereing? I would've given you the house code." Cecilia Boyd, beaming at the sight of Vivienne, had evidently otten such trivial matters, "Oh, it's nothing. We just missed you and thought to drop by, also brought sof your favorite treats." en.kikistories Isolde Ellington sighed beside her, amused by the overly cordial e relationship between her mother and sister-in-law, a dynamic far more harmonious than any TV could depict. en.kikistories Not only did her own son find himself out of favor.

But she could also treat her own daughter as nothing more than a tool.

When Vivienne saw the lunchbox in Cecilia's hands, her heart warmed, "Perfect timing, I haven't had lunch yet. Why don't Mom and Isolde stay and eat with me?" Cecilia's face lit up, nodding eagerly, "Oh, that would be lovely. Your sister has been quite picky at lunch and didn't eat much. She's been saying she's hungry." Isolde: Are you sure? Cecilia: Kids need to eat to grow.

As they walked on, Thomas got out of the car to bring Vivienne something, catching Cecilia's gaze and quickly lowering his head to greet, "Ma'am!" Cecilia nodded, her gaze inadvertently drifting behind her.

Her focus had been all on Vivienne, almost etting she had another child, "Oh right, Vivienne, where's the lad? Why isn't he with you?" Vivienne chuckled, ever since the two got married, Mr. Wolf's standing at hhad been on a steady decline.

"Mr. Wolf got held up, probably will be back late today." Cecilia didn't care who was around to hear herplaints about her own son.

Thomas stood awkwardly, not sure whether to listen or to ignore.

Maybe he should leave before getting caught in the middle. The last thing he needed was for Percival to find out and blhim for not being able to keep a straight face! Fortunately, Vivienne intervened, "Mom, it's cold out here, let's go inside to talk."