Maya's POV
The hours crawled by in a haze of confusion. Ophelia and Lana tried their best to distract me with wedding plans, but Justin's death had cast a dark shadow over my mood. Despite our strained relationship and the recent revelation that we weren't biological siblings, his passing struck me hard. Such a young life ended so brutally - what a terrible waste.
"Girls, may I steal my daughter for a moment?"
I was sitting on the balcony with Ophelia and Lana when my father appeared in the doorway. The evening sky had painted itself in soft hues of purple and orange.
"What a gorgeous evening," he remarked, stepping outside.
"It is," I agreed, reaching out to touch his face. "How are you holding up?"
