Ethan's POV
Sleep had never truly come.
I'd spent the night staring at the ceiling, waiting for the sun to rise and seal my fate. Every thought returned to what awaited me today—the ritual, the blood, the girl. An innocent girl.
I sat on the edge of the bed as dawn crept through the curtains, bathing the room in pale light. My hands felt heavy, my chest tight. When I finally stood and walked to the washroom, I avoided the mirror for as long as I could.
But eventually, I looked.
The reflection staring back at me was a stranger—cold eyes, unshaven jaw, exhaustion carved into every line of his face. I splashed water over my skin, hoping to wash away what I saw, but the guilt clung tighter.
Is this really who I am now?
There was a time my biggest worry was paperwork and board meetings. When I was just the CEO of Vanders Enterprises, living in the city, chasing deadlines and ambition. That life felt like a dream now—fading, unreal.
