Chapter 80: Hollow

Chapter 80: Hollow           After Grace's outburst, she hadn't stepped foot outside her room for the next three days.   At first, no one questioned it. She was known to be stubborn, known to shut people out when she was pissed. But as time passed, what started as mild annoyance turned into concern. The maids had knocked, calling her name softly. They left trays of food and water outside her door, only for them to remain untouched. Someone even tried slipping a note under the door, but there was no response. It was as if she had disappeared.   Her father had stood outside her door at one point but he didn't knock. He didn't speak. He simply stood there for a few minutes, then turned and walked away.   And Marco—he had been trying to ignore it.   Trying to tell himself that she was fine, that she was just being dramatic, that any second now, she'd burst out of that room like nothing had happened. Maybe she'd be in one of her moods, barking orders, demanding a drink, or throwing herself