Bailey’s POV
The palace halls were quiet, but I wasn’t. My heels clicked against the marble like a countdown, each step deliberate. Lucian was waiting, stiff as ever, arms crossed like he already knew I was about to stir trouble. He didn’t trust me—not really. But trust wasn’t what I needed. Curiosity was. Desire was. And I knew exactly how to bait him.
“Phantom’s been treating her like crap,” I said, leaning against the table like it was casual conversation. “Lucian, you and I both know Maryelle deserves better than this mess of a situationship. Honestly, it’s so heartbreaking. The two of them fight every other day, and she’s always the one left in tears. Tell me that love story doesn’t scream doomed. She used to be so confident, so daring, so bold and enviable. But now... she's like e
