As I headed inside, I had to ignore the stares of the workers and maids as I passed. The whispers. The judgment.
I was used to it by now.
"María José is cursed."
"She brought this upon herself."
"No wonder Don Diego has to be strict with her."
I didn't care.
I needed to find Juana.
Father had summoned her earlier and I needed to know why. I could only hope deep down, that she wasn't in any form of trouble because of me.
I searched the halls, peering into rooms, scanning for the one person in this entire house who had ever been kind to me. My best friend.
When I couldn't find her, I stopped one of the younger maids. "Have you seen Juana?"
The girl stiffened, her eyes darting around nervously. "I—I don't know."
I frowned. "What do you mean, you don't know? She works here."