Chapter 584

The mall buzzed with activity, but Vivian Laurent felt ice-cold.

The surveillance footage was too blurry to trace Theo's whereabouts. Her fingers trembled as she dialed 911—

"Vivian!"

A child's bright voice cut through the crowd.

Her head snapped up.

Theo was being led toward her by a young woman in a white tee and jeans. The girl couldn't have been older than twenty, yet her sharp gaze carried an edge.

What made Vivian's blood run cold were the eyes.

Those peach-blossom eyes—identical to her own.

"Theo!" She rushed forward and pulled the boy into her arms. "Where were you?"

"I went down the slide with a new friend and got lost." He pointed at the young woman. "This sister helped me find you."

Vivian's stomach dropped when she noticed Theo's smartwatch was missing.

"Where's your watch?"

"I don't know when it fell off." His lower lip wobbled. "I tried calling you."

Every alarm in her mind blared.

She subtly shifted Theo behind her, studying the stranger. "Thank you so much. How can I repay you?"

"No trouble at all." The girl's smile was sweet, but her eyes were glacial. "I'm Annika Heilbronn."

The name hit Vivian like a knife to the chest.

Fragmented memories from training camp sharpened into focus—her mentor once mentioned his star pupil. Annika Heilbronn.

"You—" Her throat tightened.

Annika tilted her head, all innocence. "You look pale. Are you okay?"

Theo tugged Vivian's sleeve. "She looks just like you!"

Vivian forced a smile. "What a coincidence."

Then she spotted it—the faint scar on Annika's right hand. The mark of an organization-issued dagger.

Her blood turned to ice.

This wasn't an accident.

Annika had come for her.