Lily (gritting her teeth):
"I really don’t mean to be rude, Mrs. Donovan, but… your grandson? He was unbelievably aggressive. I was just trying to help, and he—” She pauses, pressing her lips together, trying to stay respectful.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsp2DmbGYA
Mrs. Donovan sighs, her eyes softening with a hint of sadness.
"Ethan has his demons, dear. But I’ll have a word with him."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6x0hHe5Tf
Lily forces a smile, nods politely, and steps out into the late afternoon sun. The cool breeze brushes against her cheek, but it does little to cool the frustration boiling inside her.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatBZpqQVbO
On her way home, she spots Peter, her childhood friend, leaning against his bicycle. His brow furrows as soon as he sees her.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupq2hrEvxe
Peter (concerned):
"Lily? What happened to you?" He gestures toward the faint bruise forming on her wrist, where Ethan had grabbed her too harshly.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz0LRpOAsV
Lily tries to shrug it off, but Peter doesn’t let her. Without another word, he takes the hotpot from her hands, carrying it for her as they walk the dusty road back home.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYggi1fUrIA
As they step into the small, neat house, Lily’s mother, sharp-eyed and always alert, immediately notices Peter’s presence—and the absence of the hotpot in Lily’s hands.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4cJnnX7GT
Mom (narrowing her eyes):
"Peter, why are you carrying that? What happened to Lily?"
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Bl4Dn7ZXQ
Before Lily can make up an excuse, Peter blurts out, "She got hurt by Mrs. Donovan's grandson."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4GmEPfrkS
The room falls silent. Lily’s mother’s face hardens, her jaw clenched. Without a word, she grabs Lily’s hand and storms out the door, dragging her daughter along.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mzDIswZJx
Mom (fuming):
"No one lays a finger on my daughter. We’re going to have a word with this boy."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sJMjMsdDb
Lily’s heart pounds in her chest. She hadn’t expected this. But deep down, a part of her was curious. What would Ethan say when faced with her—and her
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiBTV2xk3q
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeQwtmMRsv
SCENE:ON THE WAY
Lily struggled against her mother’s iron grip as they made their way down the street. Each step felt heavier than the last as she tried to explain herself once again. "Mom, please, I’m fine. There's no need for all this tension. I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of it."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk9kEUCxvu
But her mother was relentless. "You don’t understand, Lily! You never understand!" Her voice was tight with frustration, her hand gripping Lily’s wrist so firmly that it almost hurt. "You need to learn to listen, and you need to understand the importance of respect."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQQtcLBZXA
Before Lily could argue further, they arrived at Mrs. Donovan’s house. The sight of her mother, so focused and resolute, made Lily's heart sink. They were here to confront Ethan, but for some reason, Lily felt like the real battle was between her mother and the truth she refused to see.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVVHslAPhE
Outside, Mrs. Donovan was doing dishes in the yard, her back turned to them. Her mother wasted no time, storming up to her with fury in her steps. "Where is he?" Lily's mother demanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCXgvcQgTl
Mrs. Donovan glanced up, startled at the sudden confrontation. "What’s going on? Lily’s mother, what’s all this about?" she asked, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P2PlD9QdP
Without waiting for a proper greeting, Lily’s mother snapped, "Where’s the boy? I need to speak with him. Did he really hurt my daughter?"
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx9i1Jyn4q
The air seemed to freeze as Mrs. Donovan’s eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, her tone confused. "What’s this all about?"
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUJAf6LHbB
Before her mother could respond, Ethan appeared at the door, walking toward them with a calm that unsettled Lily. He didn’t look sorry, nor did he seem at all concerned about the tension in the air. His posture was straight, his gaze unwavering.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIqd7H1MBT
Lily’s mother wasted no time. "Did you hurt my daughter? Did you really strike her?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYcYjbymI0
Ethan didn’t flinch. Without a moment’s hesitation, he looked directly at her and replied, his tone laced with defiance, "I did it because she had no manners. She needed to learn respect."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4OFDuhgPW
Lily’s mother’s face turned red with fury, and she took a step toward him, her voice rising. "How dare you speak to me like that? You have no right to treat my family this way! You should be apologizing, not giving excuses!"
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2vaStPv8j
But Ethan stood his ground, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You don’t get it, do you?" he shot back, his voice low but full of contempt. "Your daughter didn’t learn her place, and I taught her." He glanced at Lily with a sneer, as if daring her mother to challenge him further.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKHh1gXUy7
Lily felt a knot form in her stomach. This wasn’t the boy she had known—or thought she knew. The boy standing before her wasn’t just rude, he was downright disrespectful.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8SqPpRcJr
Mrs. Donovan, who had been standing silently, finally stepped forward. Her voice was much softer now, more regretful. "Ethan," she said, her tone strained, "that’s enough."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UVa3h58A9
Ethan didn’t even look at her. His focus remained entirely on Lily’s mother, his jaw clenched.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJCNWnFLUY
"Apologize," Mrs. Donovan repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "This has gone too far."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcQV8rtnFn
For a long moment, Ethan’s eyes flickered to his grandmother, then to Lily’s mother, and then back to the ground. Finally, he exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath before forcing the words out. "Fine. I’m sorry."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIFmnLOiPf
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxuQZzyRN3
Lily’s mother didn’t seem satisfied, her anger still simmering. She stared at Ethan, her eyes narrowing. "That’s not good enough," she snapped. "You don’t just apologize like that after everything you’ve done. You need to show real remorse for what you did to my daughter."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJLtKUaD6p
Ethan's jaw tightened. He had already said what was needed, and he wasn’t going to be dragged into a deeper conversation about it. "I already said I’m sorry," he shot back, his voice laced with impatience. "What more do you want from me?"
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeLXqtoaCH
Lily’s mother’s face flushed with anger. "I want you to understand what you’ve done. Apologizing like that isn’t enough. You hurt my daughter, and you need to take responsibility for that."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEF9w2iwKk
Ethan stood tall, his expression hardening. "I told you why I did it. She needed to learn her place, and I made sure she did."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwj8BD7WlI
Lily felt a chill in the air as the tension between her mother and Ethan reached a breaking point. Her mother was visibly shaking with fury, but Ethan showed no sign of remorse—just defiance.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkjdbL0xOC
Mrs. Donovan, still standing quietly beside them, seemed to be at a loss. She gave a deep sigh and, after a long pause, spoke softly, almost pleading. "Ethan, that’s enough. Please, just let it go."
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡienIjPi05E
But Ethan’s gaze remained fixed, unyielding. "I’ve already apologized," he muttered, as if the words didn’t matter anymore.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Rc3uQLcm
Lily’s mother turned sharply, pulling Lily away from the scene. "Let’s go, Lily. There’s nothing more to be said here," she said, her voice still tight with anger.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q6h6RLfJS
Lily’s stomach churned as they walked away. Ethan’s apology had felt empty, and his attitude left a bitter taste in her mouth.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLomTjtUMH0
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9elB7H8y3u
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVO5tXXtUy
As they walked down the familiar path leading home, the air was cool and the sound of the birds in the trees offered a quiet comfort. Lily’s mind was still racing from the events of the day, but her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9HQvvJFxr
“Lily,” her mother said softly, “I need you to remember something, something important.”
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQuyRgdJsO
Lily glanced at her, noticing the seriousness in her mother’s eyes. Her mother’s words had a way of staying with her, so she slowed her pace, giving her full attention.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLjk8ilINy
“Don’t ever let anyone treat you badly,” her mother continued, her voice firm but caring. “No matter how much they have, no matter how much they seem to offer. A person’s wealth doesn’t make them worth more than your heart. Don’t you ever let anyone make you feel small, Lily. Not even if they try to charm you with everything they own.”
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Np9JLMSy
Lily felt a lump form in her throat, the weight of her mother’s words settling deep within her. She had always trusted her mother, and now, more than ever, she understood the depth of what she was saying. Her mother wasn’t just talking about money; she was talking about respect, self-worth, and the kind of love Lily deserved.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2UXsDtN2S
“I understand, Mama,” Lily whispered, a new strength blossoming in her chest. She promised herself then that no one—rich or poor—would ever make her feel less than what she was worth.
