While some abroad rejoiced in fulfilled wishes, others back home were trapped in a fog of sorrow they couldn't escape.
Serena stepped into the Thorne estate and found Gabriel on the courtyard swing, his head bent, carving a block of wood with intense focus. Belmor Town had just seen its first snow, and sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a clear glow. But on Gabriel, it seemed to lose its warmth, leaving only a heavy shadow.
His knife slipped, nicking his finger, but he didn't notice until blood seeped into the wood. He jerked his hand back, startled.
Serena pulled a bandage from her bag and offered it, but Gabriel pressed his lips tight, looking away as if avoiding something toxic. Anger surged in her chest.
She snatched the carving from his hand and hurled it into a distant sn
