~Lucian’s POV

As soon as Bella left for the fashion school with Elena, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in. The palace suddenly felt too big, too quiet. I knew supporting her dream and encouraging her to pursue fashion was the right thing to do, but I hadn’t anticipated how much I would miss her presence. She had only just left, but I already felt her absence like a weight on my chest.

I sat in my office after she left, staring out the window, trying to distract ...