Lunch break had finally arrived. Ethan grabbed two sandwiches and headed for the school garden, seeking a moment of peace. He settled onto the grass and unwrapped his meal, but his mind was elsewhere.
Why was Mr. Henry staring at me earlier? he wondered.
Just as he was about to take his first bite, a long shadow fell over him. Ethan looked up to find Seth standing over him, looking smug. Without a word, Seth pulled out his phone and played an audio clip.
It was Enzo's voice: "Hey, Seth. I need you to take care of Daisy's brother. You can take him. Break him."
The clip ended, and Seth slid the phone back into his pocket with a cold grin. "Any last words?"
Ethan didn't move. He remained perfectly calm, his eyes indifferent. The lack of fear only fueled Seth's rage. "You bastard!" Seth roared, lunging forward.
Seth swung a heavy kick aimed at Ethan's head, but Ethan simply leaned back, letting the foot whistle past his face. The commotion quickly drew a crowd. Students gathered in a circle, and members of Enzo's gang began to cheer, sensing a easy victory for their friend.
Ethan stood up slowly, dusting off his uniform.
"Now, you're going to see what real boxing looks like," Seth bragged, squaring his shoulders. "I'm the best striker in Enzo's crew."
Seth unleashed a flurry of punches, but Ethan moved like a ghost, weaving through the assault. Finding an opening, Ethan took a step back and shifted into a professional boxing stance. Seth froze, his eyes widening. "What? You know boxing too? No way!"
Seth lunged again, desperate to land a hit. Ethan slipped the punch, countered with a lightning-fast strike to Seth's jaw, and sent him crashing to his knees.
"Where did that power come from?" Seth wheezed. He scrambled to his feet for one last charge, but Ethan met him halfway with a perfectly timed straight right. Seth's eyes rolled back as he collapsed, unconscious before he hit the dirt.
The crowd erupted.
"Nice hit!"
"That was incredible!"
"Who knew Ethan could fight like that?"
Amidst the cheering crowd, a solitary figure sat on a bench under a distant tree. He watched the scene with a calculating, unreadable expression. He checked his expensive watch as the school bell rang, signaling the end of the break. The crowd dispersed, and the rest of the day resumed its normal rhythm.
As school let out, Ethan found himself lost in thought. I'm glad Daisy is safe, but those letters... everything they predicted has come true. Who is sending them?
"Brother!"
Daisy came sprinting toward him, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She stopped in front of him, clutching her side.
"What happened?" Ethan asked, playing the part of the concerned brother.
"It's Madison—she's in the hospital!" Daisy cried.
Ethan nodded, maintaining his facade. He knew exactly why she was there, but he couldn't let Daisy know he had been involved in the rescue. "I saw them this morning and they seemed fine," he lied gently. "What happened?"
"Let's just go see them! Madison has always been there for me. We have to be there for her," Daisy insisted. Ethan agreed, and together they made their way to the hospital.
Inside the hospital room, the atmosphere was heavy. Allen lay in the bed, his body a map of bandages. He had lost a significant amount of blood and remained unconscious. Madison sat on a nearby couch, her foot propped up and wrapped in gauze.
Her grandfather, the Chairman, stood by the window with his lead bodyguard. Allen had been taken in by the family at a young age and trained specifically to be Madison's shield. To the Chairman, Allen was more than an employee—he was family.
Suddenly, Allen's eyes snapped open. "Where am I?" he gasped, trying to sit up. He winced as the pain flared through his chest. Where is Madison? Did they take her?
"Allen..." the Chairman said, stepping forward. "Easy. You're safe."
"Chairman," Allen wheezed, relaxing slightly. "You shouldn't have come all this way for me."
"You saved my granddaughter, Allen. I don't know how I could ever thank you enough."
"It's my job, sir," Allen replied weakly. "You pay me to keep her safe."
A soft knock interrupted them.