Ethan's POV
If there is anything worse than waking up after your whole life collapses, it is waking up and realizing the world already knows… and they have chosen their villain.
Me.
I felt it the moment I stepped through the school gates the next morning.
The air changed.
The hallway fell quiet.
Feet slowed.
Eyes followed me the way people look at something dirty on the floor.
Whispers.
Stares.
Judging looks that felt like knives.
Usually, when I walked into Ravenwood Academy, people screamed my name or waved or dragged me for selfies, but this morning—
Silence.
A heavy, ugly silence.
I swallowed hard and pulled my hoodie over my head, trying not to sound as miserable as I felt.
"Is that him?" someone whispered.
"He really did it?" another guy said, his voice filled with mockery.
"That poor girl…"
"I didn't know Ethan was like that."
"He always acted like he could do no wrong."
"How could he embarrassed SajaBoys like that?"
My chest tightened with every word.
I wanted to shout.
I wanted to scream the truth in their faces.
But all I could do was walk—fast, straight, and stiff—like if I stopped, I would collapse right there.
When I reached the lockers, I prayed—actually prayed—that my friends would at least look at me normally.
Jayden.
Milo.
Rei.
My band mates and closest friends.
The only people I trusted.
But the moment they saw me approaching, all three of them froze.
Jayden's eyes darkened.
Milo looked away.
Rei's lips trembled.
"Guys—"
Jayden slammed his locker shut so hard the bang echoed.
The hallway fell even quieter.
"Don't 'guys' us," he said coldly.
My throat tightened. "Jayden, you don't understand—"
"Oh, I understand," he cut in. "Because EVERYONE understands. The whole school understands. The whole internet. The agency. The judges." His voice cracked. "You think we don't have phones? You think we didn't SEE the video?"
Video.
What video?
Of course there was a video.
Why wouldn't there be?
The crowd recorded everything.
Even the lies.
I tried again. "Jay—"
Milo stepped forward, pain in his eyes. "You had just ONE job Ethan. One moment. And because of you, the band reputation is totally ruined, how do we bounce back from this… now everyone thinks we are hosting a pervert."
Rei's voice was small. "You shouldn't have done that bro…. Was the Ass so soft that u couldn't ignore" His eyes glistened. "Damn it Ethan… this was our suppose to be our big break."
Guilt stabbed through my chest.
"I swear I didn't do it," I whispered. "I didn't touch her. I didn't even know who she was."
Jayden scoffed. "Yeah? Then why does the whole city think you did?"
Because the wrong story spreads faster than the truth.
But I couldn't say that.
Not when they were looking at me like a stranger.
"I'm telling the truth," I said again, weaker this time.
Milo shook his head slowly. "We're suspended, Ethan."
My breath froze.
"What?"
"The agency told the school administration," he said. "Until this scandal dies off, we are not allowed to go public, SajaBoys activities are on hold. No rehearsals. No practice room. Nothing."
Scandal.
Suspended.
My ears rang.
Rei looked at me with tears in his eyes. "Do you know how much this meant to me? You are super rich so it might not be difficult to make it in the industry but for people like us….. we can't afford a scandal like this."
Jayden stepped back.
When my hand instinctively reached out, he moved away from my touch.
That hurt more than the punch he threw yesterday.
"We don't want to talk to you right now," he said harshly. "Just… stay away."
They turned their backs to me.
And walked away.
No goodbyes.
No second chances.
Just their footsteps fading down the hall while I stood there like a ghost.
People around us started murmuring.
"That's what he gets."
"He brought shame to them."
"Serves him right."
My eyes burned.
But I forced myself not to break down—not here, in front of everyone ready to record it.
I walked away quickly, ignoring the whispers, the judgment, the disgust.
I didn't belong here anymore.
Not in this hallway.
Not with my friends.
Not even in my own skin.
I just wanted to go home.
Whatever "home" meant.
Because the massive mansion I lived in never felt like one.
The gate opened too slowly for my liking as I approached the driveway.
Tall, white walls.
Shiny cars.
Security guards.
Everything screamed luxury.
Everything screamed emptiness.
I walked into the mansion, and the cold silence hit me. The house was filled with staffs but yet always managed to stay as quiet as a desert.
I walked in frustrated.
As I dropped my bag on the marble floor, someone rushed toward me.
"Nanny Clara."
She had taken care of me since I was five.
The closest thing to comfort in this cold house.
But even she looked tense today.
"Ethan," she whispered, grabbing my arm urgently. "Your father… he's extremely angry. He told everyone not to disturb him. He said to send you to him the moment you arrive."
My heart froze.
My father's anger wasn't like other people's anger.
It was quiet.
Calculated.
Sharp.
Painful.
"I didn't do it," I whispered to her. "I swear, Nanny, I didn't do it."
Her eyes softened, but she touched my cheek gently. "I believe you, my boy. But he won't. Not today. You must go to him calmly. Be polite. Don't talk back."
I nodded stiffly.
Even though my hands were shaking.
I walked through the long hallway toward the indoor golf space—his favorite part of the mansion. It smelled like polished wood and money.
He was there.
Standing tall.
Staring at the small white ball on the pristine green carpet.
His back turned to me.
"Dad…" I said softly.
He didn't turn. "Come. Play."
Play.
That was worse than if he had shouted.
I swallowed and picked up the golf club. My palms were sweaty, my fingers trembling.
He positioned himself behind me, the way he used to when I was little.
But there was nothing warm about it now.
"Do you know where I was today?" he asked quietly.
My stomach twisted.
"A business meeting," I replied, barely above a whisper.
"Yes," he said. "A business meeting for a child support program funded by the government. A project meant to protect children from harm."
I froze.
"I was about to sign the contract," he continued in the same calm, chilling tone. "A project worth millions. A project that would help thousands of struggling families."
He walked past me slowly.
"But then," he said, "my partners saw the headlines."
My hands tightened around the golf stick.
He finally faced me.
Cold eyes.
Sharp jaw.
Emotionless expression.
"They heard," he said, "that my own son… assaulted a girl."
"No—Dad, it's not—"
"They pulled out immediately."
I flinched.
"I sat there," he said quietly, "in a room full of powerful men, while they questioned whether a man who cannot raise his own son properly… should be trusted with children."
"Dad, please—"
"BOW."
I dropped to my knees instantly, eyes on the ground, shoulders shaking.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I really didn't do anything—please believe me."
He didn't respond.
Instead—
A sharp, heavy pain exploded across my back.
I gasped.
He had hit me with the golf club.
Again.
And again.
And again.
I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw hurt, trying not to scream.
Screaming only made him angrier.
My vision blurred.
My body folded.
He didn't stop.
Not until Nanny Clara rushed in, shouting, "Sir, please! Please stop! You'll injure him too much!"
He finally dropped the golf stick and stepped back.
I lay on the floor, shaking, breathing hard, tears falling before I could stop them.
He walked away without a word.
As if I wasn't even there.
As if I wasn't his son.
As if I was just… a disappointment.
A burden.
A stain.
Nanny Clara dropped beside me, her hands trembling as she touched my bruised back.
"Oh my poor boy," she whispered. "Come. Let's get you treated."
I didn't talk.
I couldn't.
It wasn't until she dabbed ointment on my skin that the words finally escaped me.
"He didn't believe me," I whispered.
"I do," she said softly. "Now tell me the truth. What really happened?"
I told her everything.
The slap. The accusation.
The crowd. The video.
The chase. The concert. My friends.
She listened quietly, her eyes filled with sadness.
"I swear to you," I said through clenched teeth, anger boiling in my chest, "I didn't touch her. I didn't even know her."
Nanny Clara nodded. "I believe you, Ethan."
Her belief was the first warmth I'd felt all day.
"But," I continued, fists tightening, "she ruined everything. EVERYTHING. My group. My dream. My reputation. Even you saw what my father did."
Tears of frustration pooled in my eyes.
"She made a joke out of my life," I whispered. "She lied. She humiliated me. She destroyed everything."
Nanny sighed. "Maybe she misunderstood—"
"No."
I shook my head hard. "No misunderstandings. No accidents. She did everything intentionally. And even though it was a mistake, it still cost me a lot."
I sat up slowly, pain shooting through my back.
"If I ever find her," I whispered, voice shaking with anger, "I will make sure she pays with interest."
My eyes darkened. My fist clenched. My body burning with anger
No.
I would make sure she felt the weight of what she did.
I would make sure she understood the damage she caused.
I would make sure she never forgot the name Ethan Hale.
Not ever.
Kara's POV
I sat beside my grandma at the hospital ward, I scooped another spoon of soup and blew on it before bringing it close to Grandma's lips.
"Slowly," I said gently. "It's still hot."
She smiled weakly and swallowed.
Her hands trembled slightly from the illness, but her eyes were still bright.
"You take care of me too much," she whispered.
"You're my grandma," I said, giving her a playful glare. "I'm supposed to take care of you."
She chuckled, then winced a little. "That's my good girl, Kara. Small but brave, hardworking but still kind."
I shrugged. "Well… today someone tried to ruin my good girl reputation."
Grandma raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What happened?"
I placed the bowl down dramatically.
"Grandma," I began, "you won't believe what happened yesterday."
"I'm listening," she said, amused.
"So, I was walking, right?" I said, waving my hands. "Minding my business. Rushing to come see you. And then this crazy guy—this tall, shameless, entitled boy—HIT MY BUTT. He didn't just hit it but grabbed it like I belonged to him."
Grandma gasped softly, but she also looked like she was trying not to laugh.
"He touched you?"
"Yes!" I threw my hands up. "Can you imagine? Some boys are so bold! He should thank his stars I was in a hurry to get here. If not, I would have made sure he ended up in prison."
Grandma burst out laughing.
"Grandma!" I frowned.
"Oh, sweetheart," she chuckled, "maybe it was an accident."
"Accident?" I scoffed. "No, Grandma. The way he jumped and denied it—liars do that. Plus, he had that guilty look. You know the type."
She only shook her head, smiling.
I picked up the bowl again and fed her another spoon.
Just then, she sighed.
"You should always look twice before you leap… don't always be in a hurry ti jump to conclusions."
"Oh grandma," I said to cut her off quickly. "I will do as you say."
I leaned closer with a wide smile. "I applied for a scholarship and I have this positive feeling that I would get it. That way, I can focus fully on raising your medical bills."
Her face dropped in sadness. "I should be the one taking care of you, not the other way round."
A soft smiled curved on my lips as I held her hand softly. "Well u had your chance and now it's my turn."
"But the hospital bills—"
"Grandma," I interrupted with a groan, "stop. Seriously. You know I love you."
She held my hand, her skin warm and gentle. "I love you too, my child."
A small beep sounded from my phone.
I checked it casually—
Then my eyes widened.
My heart jumped.
"Grandma!"
She looked up quickly. "What happened?"
"I—I got it!"
"Got what?"
"The scholarship!" I screamed. "Grandma, I GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP! I got admitted into Ravenwood Academy!"
Her eyes widened with joy.
"Oh, Kara! My baby! That's amazing!"
"I told you!" I cried happily. "I told you I would get it!"
She laughed through tears. "You deserve it. You deserve the world."
I hugged her carefully so I wouldn't hurt her.
"I promise you," I whispered, "I'll study hard. I'll graduate. I'll get a good job. I'll take care of you. I'll make you proud."
She kissed my forehead.
"You already do."
I didn't know then—
I had no idea—
that the school I had just been accepted into…
was the same school where someone else swore to destroy me.
And that our paths were already tangled.
In the worst way possible.