"Uhn ..." Maya grunted as she sat on the edge of her bed, the phone still warm in her hand. The early morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room.
Her daughter's desperate voice echoed in her mind, leaving a knot of worry in her stomach.
"What could be so wrong that she wants to leave already?" Maya muttered to herself, running a hand through her disheveled hair.
She stood up and paced the room.
"Did I even make the right decision of keeping her at school?" Maya wondered aloud, her decision weighing heavily on her conscience.
"Maybe I should have listened more carefully..." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"But no, Flora needs to learn to be strong. She can't run away from every challenge." She maintained.
Then, she paused by the window, looking out at the awakening world. Birds chirped in the distance, oblivious to her internal struggle.
"She will be fine. She has always been resilient. Whatever it is, she can handle it until we meet." She reassured herself.
However, a sudden thought made her freeze.
"Unless..." She trailed off, a chill running down her spine.
"No, it can't be about that. She doesn't even know. She can't know. At least, not yet." Maya shook her head vigorously, as if trying to physically dislodge the notion.
"As long as it doesn't have anything to do with the truth I'm keeping from her, she will be definitely be alright. She has to be." She maintained sharply, her eyes narrowing on the emptiness before her.
With a deep sigh, Maya turned away from the window.
"I have responsibilities to attend to, and dwelling on Flora's situation wouldn't change anything now." She thought to herself and quickly got dressed, her movements automatic as her mind continued to churn.
As she walked to Asher's manor, she prepared herself for the task ahead.
"I wonder how his mood would be today..." She thought to herself as she made her way through the quiet halls of the manor, her footsteps echoing in the silence.
She paused outside Asher's bedroom door, took a deep breath, and knocked firmly.
"Asher? It is time to wake up. You have training this morning." She called out but all she got in response was silence.
Maya sighed and opened the door, stepping into the dimly lit room. Asher was a lump under the covers, showing no signs of stirring.
"Come on, Asher. Time is ticking." Maya said, her voice a mix of encouragement and exasperation.
A muffled groan came from the bed.
Slowly, Asher emerged from beneath the blankets, his hair a disheveled mess and his eyes bleary with sleep.
"Do I have to?" he mumbled, wincing as he sat up.
Maya's eyes narrowed as she noticed his discomfort.
"Are you alright? You seem to be in pain." She pointed out.
Asher avoided her gaze, running a hand through his hair.
"It is nothing. Just a bit sore from yesterday's training." He told her.
"Let me see. Did you injure yourself?" Maya moved closer, concern etched on her face.
Reluctantly, Asher pulled back the covers, revealing a nasty bruise on his side. Maya gasped softly.
"Asher! This isn't nothing. You should rest and recover." She insisted, already moving to pull the covers back over him.
But Asher shook his head vehemently, pushing himself out of bed despite the obvious pain.
"No, I can't. I have to train. I have to prove to Father that I'm better than my brother.
"What are you talking about? Your father doesn't play favorites. You know he won't ever compare you two." Maya said, furrowing her eyebrows.
Asher let out a bitter laugh.
"Oh, Maya. You are so naive. You don't know my father as well as you think you do." He maintained.
"Asher, I have known your father since you were a child. I was your babysitter, remember? And now I'm your cook and oversee this manor. I think I know Alpha Victor pretty well." Maya said softly.
Asher grunted as he pulled on his training clothes.
"You see what he wants you to see, Maya. You don't see how he looks at my brother, how he praises every little thing he does. Meanwhile, I could move mountains and he would barely notice." Asher said, gritting his teeth.
Maya shook her head, her voice gentle but firm.
"That's not true, Asher. Your father loves you both equally. He's just not always good at showing it."
"You don't understand." Asher insisted, his voice rising.
"I have to prove myself. I have to show him I'm worthy of being his heir." Asher said more to himself, sounding so determined.
Maya reached out, placing a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Asher, listen to me. You don't have to prove anything. You are both his sons, and he values you both." She maintained.
But Asher shrugged off her hand, his jaw set in determination.
"No, Maya. I know what I have to do. I'm going to train, injury or no injury. I will show him I'm stronger, that I can push through the pain. That I'm better than my brother in every way." He said.
Maya watched helplessly as Asher got out of the bed, grunting as he did and strode towards the door, his movements stiff but purposeful.
"At least let me wrap that bruise for you. And promise me you will take it easy." She called after him.
Asher paused at the doorway, his hand on the handle.
For a moment, Maya thought he might relent. But then he squared his shoulders and spoke up.
"I appreciate your concern, Maya. But I can't take it easy. Not if I want to earn my father's respect." He insisted.
As Asher disappeared down the hallway, Maya sank onto the edge of his bed, her heart heavy.
Finally, with a deep sigh, Maya stood up. She had her duties to attend to, meals to prepare, a household to oversee.
As she made her way to the kitchen, Maya's mind drifted back to Flora.
"What could have happened at the school to upset her so much?" She thought.