— Take a deep breath, Moon, breathe… Maybe she didn’t recognize you… — she thought, tearing apart the piece of cake.

Moon felt the sweet scent approaching and continued to look at her plate, still ignoring everything around her.

— It’s been a long time since we last spoke, Gray. I didn’t expect to see you here…

— Bailey, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with Josiah? — Gray asked.

— My father is already there, talking business. Boring… — Bailey replied. — What is she doing here? — she pointed her finger at Moon. — Wait… Did you come after her?

— You should leave… — Gray replied, standing firm next to Moon.

— I will… If you talk to me… — she looked at Moon. — Alone.

— No… Please just go away while I’m being nice…

Moon turned around, silently, and watched her for a few seconds.

She had two options: get angry or act calm. Either way, she knew Bailey would cause a scene.

Moon smiled, got up from the high chair at the kitchen counter, combed her hair with her fingers, and tied it into a high ponytail, leaving her neck exposed. Leaving the mark of her union with Gray exposed. And she moved so that Bailey could see the mark.

— You can go. — she approached and kissed Gray, lightly. — I’ll wait for you at Ace’s bakery.

Gray was stunned.

Bailey was restless, pacing back and forth, her heels echoing around the room. She saw the mark. She couldn’t believe Moon had managed to win.

Gray stood there, impassive, watching her with a cold, distant gaze, tired of her constant attempts at manipulation.

— How could you… choose someone like her? — Bailey practically shouted, her eyes blazing with anger. — Can’t you see we’re a much better match? We’re from wealthy, educated, influential families…

Gray stared at her, his eyes fixed on her as if he were dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. He knew what Bailey was like cruel, arrogant, and never hesitant to step on anyone to get what she wanted. Her obsession with him was just another extension of that selfish behavior.

— Both of us? — he laughed humorlessly, shaking his head. — Bailey, you’re crazy… You made this all up in your head. I would never be with you.

She stopped, her hands clenched into fists, her pride wounded.

— I was there for you when no one else was. I did everything for you, Gray. And you treat me like this like I'm nothing?

Gray watched her for a moment, his eyes dark and unwavering.

— You were never there for me. You never did anything for me, except try to get close because you wanted something. — he leaned against the counter slowly, crossing his arms, his voice low and sharp. — I knew what you did, Bailey. Everything you stole from my family, all the dirt you tried to hide… And also about trying to kill Moon.

Bailey opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.

— You think you can manipulate everyone around you, but with me, you never had a chance. — his expression hardened. — I never felt anything for you. Not a second of interest, and definitely not now. Moon… — he gave a small smile. — You’re all that matters to me. You never had a place.

Bailey’s expression turned into a mask of anger and despair.

— This is her fault! Moon has bewitched you, trapped you! — she stepped forward, her eyes shining with frustration. — You can’t just throw me away!

Gray took a step back, away from her, unfazed by Bailey's outburst.

— I don’t need any spell to see who you are. I saw that long before she showed up. — he took one last look at her, firm and determined. — Don’t look for me anymore, Bailey. You’ve done enough damage.

Without another word, Gray walked away, leaving her alone, his presence dominated by the shadow of what she would never be able to achieve.

The sound of footsteps echoed on the porch behind Bailey. She turned quickly, expecting to see Gray return, but instead, Griffin appeared, his countenance grim. He was calm, but there was an icy determination in his eyes.

— That’s enough, Bailey. — Griffin said, his voice low and controlled. He crossed his arms, his body relaxed, but the tension in the air was palpable. — It’s time to go.

Bailey glared at him, her wounded pride still bubbling inside her.

— What are you doing here? — she spat, her eyes narrowed. — Are you going to get in the way too?

He shrugged, unmoved by her verbal assault. He was used to this side of Bailey, always ready to lash out when things didn't go her way.

— Your father asked me to come and get you. — Griffin replied, unfazed. — Even he’s tired of your attitude…

Bailey huffed, crossing her arms and looking away in frustration.

— I don’t need anyone to take me anywhere. And what my father wants or doesn’t want is none of my business. — She tossed her hair back, trying to regain her usual composure. — Gray will change his mind. He’ll realize that…

— He won’t, Bailey — Griffin interrupted her firmly, but without raising his voice. — He never wanted you. And continuing to insist will only make things worse for you… Don’t provoke Moon…

Bailey turned to him, her eyes full of fury, but Griffin looked back at her with a calm, almost tired expression.

— Come on. — he said. — Go back to your father before he gets even more angry.

She hesitated for a long moment, breathing heavily, the hatred of being defeated clear in her eyes. But finally, Bailey let out a frustrated sigh of defeat. Without another word, she walked past Griffin, her face set and unwilling to prolong the humiliation.

Griffin followed close behind, silent, aware that soon Bailey’s father would have his own words to say. Frustration and resentment swirled inside her, and she struggled to contain the storm of emotions building beneath the surface.

As they approached Bailey’s father, he just sighed - his expression was a mix of worry and regret.

— Bailey, that’s enough. Leave Gray and Moon alone, please.

She scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

— Leave them alone?

For his brother’s sake, Griffin decided to give one last warning.

— If you try something, no one will protect you from Moon. Be aware of that.

As soon as she left the house, Moon walked, with firm steps, to the area at the back of Evanora’s house. The guardian was right, the morning after the night she spent with Gray, Moon regained her powers. But she was having difficulty controlling them, so she asked for help from the guardian, who promptly gave her the space to train.

Moon stood in the back of the house, the wind stirring her loose hair as the shadows around her seemed to dance, drawn by the force she could barely contain. The power pulsed within her like a storm, stronger and darker than before, ready to explode at any moment. Every breath she took seemed to fuel this energy, making it harder to hold it back.

— Focus, Moon. — Evanora’s calm voice came from somewhere behind her, distant but firm. — If you lose control now, you will become dangerous, both to yourself and to others.

But Moon could already feel the chaos growing. The shadows around her were growing thicker and thicker, twisting as if in response to her darkest thoughts. The trees around her rustled in agitation, and the earth seemed to tremble beneath her feet. It was as if the world around her was connected to her uncontrolled power, and she couldn’t find a balance.

She raised her hands, trying to channel the force into a single point, but instead of following her intentions, the power escaped through her fingers, creating fissures of darkness that spread like roots into the ground. The cold grew, and the air around her felt suffocating, thick with tension.

— I… can’t… — Moon murmured, her voice trembling, feeling despair rising.

She tried to tame what now seemed uncontrollable.

Evanora approached, her eyes attentive, but without interfering directly. Moon knew that this battle was hers.