Wyatt followed closely behind James, "No, it''s strange. We lost her trail in South Carolina, as if she vanished into thin air."


    James''s lips curled slightly, "That mysterious?"


    Wyatt nced cautiously at his boss James before continuing, "South Carolina is at the heart of a power center, which suggests that the person covering for her must be no ordinary person."


    James was reminded of the odd words Summer had mentioned back home. A flicker of intrigue crossed his eyes as he spoke, "Have you checked her past records?"


    Wyatt paused, "Past records? You mean before Ms. Mirabe reimed her identity?"


    "Yes," James nodded lightly.


    "No, I''ve only looked into Ms. Mirabe''s past," Wyatt replied smoothly, "But speaking of changes, Ms. Mirabe has undergone the most."


    James''s eyshes lowered slightly as hemanded, "Look into Summer''s past records."


    "Alright, James," Wyatt agreed, but out of curiosity, he couldn''t help asking, "Why suddenly look into her past?"


    The two had exited the federal building by then, the bright sunlight reflecting off the agency''s emblem in the za, casting a golden glow, its wings poised as if to oversee everything with sharp vignce.


    James stopped in front of the car, finally addressing Wyatt''s earlier question, "I suspect she''s be a different person."


    With that, he opened the car door and got in.


    Wyatt stood still for a moment, trying to grasp the meaning behind James''s words.


    Be a different person?


    Can people change into someone else?


    Or did James mean this Summer was an impostor?


    Wyatt, puzzled, got into the car, nced at the rearview mirror, and saw James resting against the seat with his eyes closed. He decided not to voice his question, but after a pause, he still spoke up, "Are we heading straight back to the mansion?"


    James tapped his knee lightly and then opened his eyes, "To the mall."


    Wyatt''s face twitched, suspecting he had heard wrong, "The mall?"


    James hummed in affirmation, his gaze drifting outside the window.


    Christmas was only twenty days away.


    **


    Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the year.


    Mirabe had been staying at home, barely going out, except to take Zach''s dog for walks.


    On New Year''s Eve, after dinner,


    With


    sat in the living room.


    the New Year''s Eve special


    her parents and brother.


    Nick was abroad this year, and Leo was at the live site of the show, leaving only Emmitt and Zach at


    home. They were discussing


    economics, and although Miral


    was listening, her mind was elsewhere.


    After a while, she stood up, put on her down jacket, and took Zach''s dog, Husky Junior, out for a walk.


    Zach wanted to join her, but Delh held him back.


    "Let your sister go alone. You being there might just remind her of past sorrows," Delh sighed softly.


    Understanding her point, Zach reluctantly sat back down.


    Emmitt watched from the side, his heart slightly bitter. The year haddeft him more silent and reflective, his regrets unchanged.


    As Mirabe stepped out, the biting winter wind made her instinctively wrap her jacket tighter.


    This winter was exceptionally cold.


    Exhaling, Mirabe looked down at the energetic Husky Junior by her feet, her eyes softening.


    Crossing the garden, they quickly left the mansion behind.