Julia was missing.

Stella and Gina had spent hours combing the area around Dolphin Cove with Briony, but there wasn't a single clue to be found.

Night had fallen, New Year's Eve was one day closer, and the sky was dumping endless snow, blanketing the entire city in a relentless blizzard.

Briony wandered through the storm like a lost child, searching for any trace of Julia.

Where could her mother have gone?

This city was so vast, and yet the only place her mother could truly call home was their modest apartment near Dolphin Cove-a hundred square meters and nothing more. But Julia wasn't there.

Why did she leave?

Briony couldn't make sense of it. The guilt gnawed at her; she blamed herself for not looking after her mother, for not being thoughtful enough...

The wind and snow grew harsher, battering her slender frame until she staggered. Several times she slipped and fell, but each time she stubbornly pushed herself back to her feet.

No matter how Stella tried to talk sense into her, Briony wouldn't listen. Searching for someone on foot in weather like this was madness-pure self-punishment.

Finally, when reasoning failed, Stella and Gina resorted to force, dragging Briony back into the car.

in the morning,

on the

was missing, Cedric sprang out of bed, dressed in record time, grabbed his car keys, and rushed out

later, his white Cayenne pulled up

headlights glowing

and walked over. As he approached, Stella

trouble you again, Dr. Clarke,"

the Kensingtons wouldn't dare turn Cedric away. The situation was urgent, and

"Wait in the

nose and eyes red and swollen, her whole body ragged with exhaustion. The bandage on her forehead was spotted with blood; running around in this weather with an injury

her, "Dr. Clarke's right, Bryn. Wait in

her lips together and said

been found yet you can't

She nodded and

and stared anxiously out the window, watching as Stella

The wait was agonizing.

inside the car, Briony kept her eyes glued to the big iron gates. She both hoped her mother was there and dreaded

the Kensingtons found her

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