Ethan arrived home and went straight to Daisy's room. "Daisy?" he called out.
There was no reply.
"I never knew you were being bullied," Ethan said to the silence. "I'm sorry. If I'd known, I would have done something sooner. But rest assured, Olivia and Enzo have been suspended for a week. I hope we can both go back to school tomorrow."
He turned and headed to the kitchen to eat. After finishing his meal in silence, he retreated to his room. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he found himself haunted by the words of a man from his past:
"Listen. Your real name is Ethan, and your real family is still alive. Go now. Live a normal life, and never come back."
Ethan took a deep breath, trying to push the memory aside.
Later that evening, a knock sounded at the door. Ethan's mother opened it and let out a bright smile. "Madison? You're back in the country?"
"Yes, we arrived last night," Madison replied, while Allen stood quietly a short distance behind her.
"Please, come in! Daisy will be so happy to see you," his mother urged.
Madison shook her head politely. "No, I just wanted to check on her."
"Ah, she's out for a walk with her grandfather right now," his mother explained.
Madison nodded. "I see. I'll catch her tomorrow then."
"You're leaving already? Stay for dinner!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I have somewhere else to be. I only stopped by because your house was on the way," Madison said.
Ethan's mother looked disappointed. "Fine, I'll let you go for now. But you must promise to come over for dinner soon."
Once Madison had gone and the door was closed, Ethan's mother turned toward the kitchen, only to find Ethan standing in his doorway.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"That was Madison. Her mother and I were classmates in high school," she said. Ethan followed her into the kitchen to help with the chores. "She's a wonderful girl—one in a billion. She and Daisy are quite close."
Ethan listened with a quiet smile as they worked together. Soon, the door opened and Daisy returned with their grandfather. The family sat down together, the room filling with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Ethan found himself smiling naturally; this was the life he never wanted to lose.
Elsewhere, Enzo and Olivia entered a luxury high-rise. They took the private lift to the penthouse and stepped inside. When a maid stepped forward to welcome them, Enzo wordlessly shoved his bag into her arms.
They marched straight into their father's study, where their parents were waiting.
"Mother, there's a teacher who needs to be taught a lesson," Enzo demanded.
"He suspended us for a week over absolutely nothing," Olivia added, her voice high and indignant.
Their mother's expression darkened. "Tell me his name. I'll make sure he never works in this city again. How dare he target my children."
"And there's a girl, Daisy," Olivia continued. "She's the one who started it."
"That girl again?" her mother snapped. "I'll speak to your father. You two go rest."
The next morning, Ethan woke early. After freshening up, he returned to his room to get ready for school. That's when he noticed it: a plain slip of paper sitting on his desk.
It's not from Mom or Grandpa, he thought. They would just say what they had to say. Is it from Daisy? Did she have something to tell me that she couldn't say in front of the others?
He unfolded the paper. There were only two sentences:
Don't let your sister go to school alone. They are waiting for her on the way.
Ethan's brow furrowed. This isn't Daisy's handwriting. He checked the window—it was still locked. Who had been in his room?
He finished getting ready and hurried out, catching Daisy just as she was headed for the door. "Daisy! Wait."
She paused. "Yes, brother?"
"Let's walk to school together."
"I have morning duties today, so I need to leave now," she explained. "You stay and eat breakfast; I'll be fine."
"No," Ethan insisted, his voice firm. "I'm going with you. Now."
Sensing his seriousness, Daisy nodded. "Okay. I'll pack your breakfast in a container."
As they walked toward the school, the morning air was crisp.
"Brother, do you like living here?" Daisy asked.
Ethan nodded. "Anywhere is good as long as you, Mom, and Grandpa are there."
Daisy smiled. "What was it like in Russia?"
"Cold," Ethan replied shortly.
Suddenly, his instincts flared. Several men stepped out from the shadows of the nearby alleys, blocking their path and surrounding them.
So the letter was right, Ethan thought, his gaze hardening. They were waiting.