The road out of Snowfall Valley twisted through snow-covered hills and dense evergreens, the scenery a postcard-perfect vision of winter. But Holly barely noticed the beauty. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles pale against the black leather, and her jaw was clenched to keep her emotions in check. The further she drove from the town, the more the ache in her chest grew, spreading through her like a chill that no heater could warm.
*It’s for the best.* She repeated the thought in her mind like a mantra, willing herself to believe it. Snowfall Valley had been a stopgap, a temporary escape when her life had fallen apart. She’d come here to find clarity, to rebuild herself after losing her job and her sense of purpose. And for a while, it had worked. The town, the peopl
