Ethan

The river’s gentle murmur was the only comfort I found in this suffocating palace. I sat on the bank, the cool grass beneath me, fingers tracing the familiar curves of the pendant I clutched tightly. It was my mother’s—her last gift before she left this world too soon. The pendant was the only piece of her I had left, and in its delicate design, I found solace.But peace was a fleeting thing in my life. My stepmother’s sweet words and kind smiles were all an act. Behind closed doors, her eyes were filled with disdain, her words sharp as daggers. And then there was Ethan, her son—a year older, stronger, and much crueler. He never missed a chance to remind me of my place in this twisted family, a place beneath his feet.I heard the crunch of footsteps behind me before I saw him. Ethan. My heart sank, and I tightened my grip on the pendant.“Well, if it isn’t the little prince,” Ethan sneered as he approached. I didn’t turn to face him. I knew better than to give him the satisfaction of seeing the fear in my eyes. But before I could say anything, he snatched the pendant from my hand.“What’s this?” he taunted, holding it up to the light. I lunged to grab it back, but he pushed me away easily, laughing. Before I could react, he tossed the pendant into the river. My heart stopped as I watched it disappear beneath the surface, swallowed by the relentless current.