Chapter 196
As I turned to leave, a glint of metal caught my eye. It was a small, silver locket, half-hidden beneath Maria's pillow. I hesitated for a moment, my conscience warring with my curiosity. But I couldn't ignore the possibility that the locket might contain a clue, a piece of the puzzle that could help me understand Maria's father's plan.
With a deep breath, I reached out and gently lifted the locket from beneath the pillow. It was intricately engraved with a delicate vine pattern, the same type of vine that was plaguing the city. My heart skipped a beat.
I carefully opened the locket. Inside, there were two tiny photographs. One was a picture of Maria as a young child, her face beaming with joy. The other was a picture of a man, a man with kind eyes and a warm smile. It was Maria's father.
