Chapter 46

SARAH

I stood in the kitchen, chopping vegetables while Maria worked beside me, stirring a pot on the stove. Since the incident with Marco, Maria and I had grown close. Her steady presence was a comfort in this twisted world.

“Maria,” I started, glancing at her. “You’ve been working for Marco for a while, right?”

Maria nodded, her eyes focused on the simmering soup. “Yes, it’s been almost five years now.”

“Why did you take the job?” I asked, genuinely curious. “I mean, working for someone like Marco… it can’t be easy.”

Maria smiled wistfully. “It’s a long story, Sarah. But if you’re really interested, I’ll tell you.”

I set the knife down and turned to face her, eager to hear more. “I’d love to know. Please, tell me.”

Maria took a deep breath, her hands never stopping their work. “I grew up in a small village, far from the city. We were poor, but my parents did their best to provide for us. I had three younger siblings, and I helped take care of them.”

I listened intently, picturing a