Chloe's phone buzzed violently—headline after headline flooding in like a storm.
She rushed to Lucian's study, fury in her eyes, robe flowing behind her.
> "Lucian, it's everywhere—someone leaked things, twisted the story. They're saying I had something to do with Selena—with you! You have to fix this."
Lucian sat at his desk, phone in hand, jaw clenched. He had already seen it all.
> "It's not twisted," he said calmly.
> "Excuse me?"
> "It's not twisted, Chloe. It's just… unfinished."
She froze.
> "You don't believe this, do you?"
> "I believe too much was left unsaid back then," he said quietly. "And now it's coming back."
> "Lucian," she whispered, stepping forward, "I was your ally after Selena. I helped you survive."
> "Did you?" he asked.
That silence cut her deeper than shouting ever could.
> "Raina's manipulating you. She's always been the dramatic one—"
Lucian looked at her then—really looked.
> "She lost her world, Chloe. And none of us ever asked why."
Chloe's heart pounded.
> "You're choosing her over me?"
Lucian stood, his voice low and serious.
> "I'm not choosing sides. I'm choosing the truth."
He walked past her, grabbing his coat.
> "And if you had anything to do with burying it, you should be scared."
He didn't wait for her reply.
The door shut behind him.
And Chloe was left standing alone—in a mansion full of mirrors that were finally starting to crack.