Chapter 87
Maya adjusted the last pin in her hair and took a quick glance in the mirror. “I’ll be heading out now, Mother,” she said, picking up the small purse from her table.
Her mother, seated by the window embroidering, looked up with a faint smile. “Be careful on your way. And remember, Maya, stay focused. You have no reason to get too attached to these people.”
Maya nodded sharply, ignoring the tightness in her chest. “I know what I’m doing.”
She left the house and made her way to the royal gardens, where she found Azalea kneeling near the rose bushes, carefully snipping stems and humming softly. Vicky stood nearby, holding a basket full of flowers. The sight made Maya’s stomach twist — Azalea looked so calm and unbothered, as though she had already claimed this palace as her own
