The sky began to darken, and the sound of fireworks bursting in the mansion was loud enough to illuminate the entire night sky.

Barrett's voice blended with the noisy fireworks, rising above them as his words reached Zoe's ears with relative clarity.

"Zoe, come out."

Zoe sat in her wheelchair, rolling it to the edge of the terrace railing.

Initially, she had been gazing at the vibrant fireworks overhead, but at the sound of Barrett's voice, she glanced down at him just once, as if seeing nothing at all, before returning her gaze to the sky.

Barrett was eager to climb up to the terrace again, urgently asking, "Zoe, what...