Chapter 69

The girl stood up, and Talisha took her hand. She took the empty basket, and they headed for the exit.

"I'll send another maid to collect your tray later," Talisha said. "Continue eating in peace. Enjoy your food, and have a great rest of the day."

Talisha's words were a distant echo as the door shut, sealing her in solitude once more. The untouched tray of food lay forgotten as she drifted towards the window, her gaze lost in the relentless downpour.

As she gazed at the torrential rain beating down on the lush foliage, she watched the tiny rivulets that had emerged on the earth, tracing their way through the landscape.

Each droplet was a note in the symphony of her despair, the rivulets on the glass a map of her shattered expectations.

She noticed the candlestick was still beside the wardrobe, burning the candles. Its flames danced with a warmth she couldn't feel; their flickering light starkly contrasted with the cold emptiness clutching her heart. Her breath hitched, poised to exti