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339words
It was scenery I’d never seen.I loved sunbathing,the warmth seemed to drive away my inner darkness.
Even briefly,I craved the light,hoping for redemption.
The island was private,filled with people I recognized,free from disturbance.
Jessica’s party went on day and night,champagne sprayed,chefs and staff on call 24/7.
These young teens,free from parental constraints,let their emotions run wild.
Someone crossed a line,and others followed.
Jessica,pretending to be drunkenness,collapsed into Ethan’s arms multiple times.
Ethan’s soft“You’re drunk”and intense gaze misled her,prompting tighter hugs.
He smirked mischievously,then tossed her into the sea.
Jessica coughed,complaining about his roughness,her tone coy.
I watched from the shadows,these kids enjoying the sunshine,tempted to drag them into my darkness.
Ethan looked back,his smile radiant.
Maybe in this life,I could stand freely in the light.
Late at night,while I was asleep,someone pinned me down,hand clamped over my mouth.
“Don’t you move.Don’t scream.”
It was Mark Johnson,the boy who’d slammed me into a desk,bruising my ribs for days.
I calmed,analyzing his motives.
Seeing me still,he said,“Claire,you’re gorgeous,but your attitude is really bad.Girls envy you,guys want you.You’ll need a boyfriend eventually—be mine.I’ll protect you.”
Laughable.Mark’s family were nouveau riche—how could they protect me against the multi-generational Harper dynasty?
He reached to undress me.I thrashed,but my strength was no match for him,pinned helplessly.
I didn’t stop fighting,delaying him.
A loud bang!
The weight lifted.Mark clutched his head,howling on the floor.
“Claire!Are you alright?”
Ethan pulled me roughly from the bed.
Seeing that my clothes were still intact,he sighed in relief.
Mark fled,jumping into the sea.
Ethan started to chase after him,but I stopped him.
“Don’t.He didn’t succeed,and I don’t want more trouble.You followed to protect me,but we have bigger plans.”
Under moonlight,Ethan’s fists clenched,eyes pained.“Do you have to endure this much?”
I met his gaze calmly.“You teamed up with me because I can endure,right?”
He looked down,then up,his face neutral.“You’re right.The Harpers are the main focus.No distractions now.”
Next day,I moved from a water villa to a beach villa,with doors that could be locked.
