“Who is this?” My mother asks in a whisper as she looks at Rachel stepping out of the car curiously. “She looks familiar.”

I turn my head to look at my mother and am still struggling for words as Hendrick chimes in casually. “A maid from the royal castle.”

“Oh,” my mother says, seemingly disappointed. “I didn’t expect that.”

Sighing, I close my eyes shortly to take a short breath as if wanting to prepare myself for what I'm about to say. “She's Cayden’s ex, Mom. She works at the palace.”

“I beg your pardon?” My mother gasps, collecting herself just as Rachel takes the last step, reaching us in...