Ethan's POV
I was looking for a way to cheer up Aurora.
She's the apple of our eyes…
and yet, a forbidden apple for me.
One that I could never dare to touch, but one I'd guard with my life.
She's everything we weren't allowed to be kind, warm, reckless with love. And in the middle of all that light, she still carries wounds deeper than anyone can see… even before that bastard Sebastian tore her world apart.
Aurora's always loved fiercely her friends, her people, even the ones who never deserved it. Her parents came from simple roots. We studied together at the prestigious academy funded by Madoc Inc, nestled deep within the breathtaking region of Auralis.
Auralis—just the name feels like poetry.
It takes three hours to get there from Eldoria. No direct flight exists; you must first land in Velmora, a transit city hidden between highland cliffs and lakes, and only then can you reach Auralis—a land that literally translates to "the place of glowing dawns and gentle breeze." Every time I returned, I'd remember why. Endless fields of lush greens rolled across the horizon like ocean waves. Ancient trees swayed under golden skies. Streams sparkled like ribbons of light. It was a place people came to escape and often never wanted to leave.
But for me… Auralis was a gilded prison.
As for why Theodore studied there, of all places, no one knew. I never asked, and Aurora didn't seem to care. She's always been that way. She followed her heart, no matter how many times it led her to ruin.
She was that girl. Until Sebastian.
Five years of hell—that's what his presence brought. Not just to her… but to everyone who loved her.
As for how I met Aurora... it's the kind of story you'd find in a fantasy novel. Tragic, cruel, and twisted with fate.
I'm the illegitimate son of the infamous Wang family. My father was old money... respected by the world but rotten to the core. A man who couldn't pass a woman without trying to possess her.
And my mother?
Just one of his discarded lovers. She hoped to gain something from the affair. When she realized she wouldn't, she dumped me at the gates of his estate and vanished.
What a good mother!!
He never acknowledged me neither did I. Not publicly. But he had no choice but to let me live under his roof until I finished high school. Everyone in town knew the scandal. The shame. And I carried it on my back every single day.
Inside that mansion, I was a ghost.
My stepmother and grandfather loathed me. They never laid a hand on me but their words did more damage than any weapon could. My stepbrothers? They did worse.
They couldn't touch me at home. But in school? I was free game.
My uniforms were always torn. They once poured toilet water on me and laughed when I vomited. Most days I walked with bruises under my collar. Their friends joined too. They shoved me down stairs, locked me in janitor closets, stepped on me like I was nothing but dirt.
I skipped school as much as I could. But one day, they caught me trying to sneak away.
"Yaaa… You think you can run, huh?" Lucas, my brother, sneered.
"I-I'm sorry, brother… please leave me alone…"
He shoved me onto the gravel, grabbing my leg and dragging me into the alley like I was trash. My knees scraped. Blood mixed with dust.
"Yo, look at him cry! What are you, a girl?" He laughed, pointing at me. His friends howled.
"If you want us to stop, beg."
My thighs were bleeding. Scratches ran deep. But what pride did I have left?
I dropped to my knees. "Please, brother. I'll stay away forever. Just stop…"
He smirked. "As if I could, Today I have a different punishment for you. We usually strip girls. Let's try it on you today."
My heart stopped.
They ripped off my shirt. I sobbed, trying to shield myself.
Then they took a marker. In bold black ink, they wrote "BASTARD CHILD" across my chest and back.
I screamed. I begged. They reached for my pants...
And then, a voice pierced the chaos.
"Here! Officers, over here! They're harassing that boy!"
Six officers stormed in. Lucas and his gang were yanked off me, pinned to the ground. Their faces turned pale.
I was trembling. My voice had vanished.
They dragged all of us to the police station.
That's when I saw her.
Almond eyes, hair cascading down her shoulders like ink, a fire burning behind her gaze. And beside her, tall and intimidating with a dark edge...he stood.
She stepped forward and offered a hoodie.
"Please wear this. It's my friend's...it'll suit you."
I hesitated. She nudged him, clearly annoyed.
"It's mine. Just wear it. You can't walk around like that." he said.
I nodded and slipped it on, my fingers trembling.
Moments later, he arrived.
My father. Red with embarrassment. Step-mother trailing behind.
Slap.
My cheek burned. Five fingers marked my face.
"How dare you shame your brother like this?! Bastard! Just like your whore mother!"
Even the officers froze. Both that boy and girl stared, stunned.
Something snapped in me.
"I never asked to be born! Do you think I wanted to live like this...bullied, beaten, hated every day? I'd rather rot alone than ever be a part of your cursed bloodline!"
Silence.
My father stepped back, stunned.
Both the boy and girl exchanged a glance. Then she spoke, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Theo… call your lawyer. Please. He looks… broken."
I growled, "I don't need your pity. Who even are you to pity me?"
Theo grabbed my collar. "If it weren't for her, your video would've gone viral. You should be thanking her."
She stepped between us.
"Aiyaaa! Are you crazy?! He's already scarred...physically and emotionally. You think he'll ever trust anyone again? We're strangers to him, Theo."
She had more maturity than most adults.
Theo sighed. "Fine. Just this once."
Within hours, Madoc Inc's legal team descended on the station. Even the officers looked shaken.
My father crumbled. My grandfather was forced to sign papers. In exchange for Lucas' release, they gave up all claims over me though I'd still carry the last name. A fair deal.
Finally. Freedom.
When I stepped out, the air tasted different. Lighter. Sharper.
They waited for me outside.
The girl smiled gently.
"Hi… congratulations on your freedom. I'm Aurora Adkins, and this is my friend also my brother, Theodore Madoc."
And that's how I met her.
The girl who changed everything.