I spent the whole evening with Ethan.
He reminded me so much of Diana, but perhaps that was natural—they were half-siblings, after all. Yet, where Diana was stubborn and emotionally perceptive, Ethan was reserved, a bit shy, and hesitant to express himself freely. Watching him was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Every small smile felt like an achievement, but beneath it, there was a silent, invisible weight pressing down on him.
What shattered me the most was how withdrawn and fearful he seemed. The moment I mentioned calling his mother, his small body stiffened. Then, without warning, he shrieked and clung to me, his tiny hands gripping my clothes like his life depended on it. His head shook violently as he buried his face in my chest, trembling.
Evelyn.
I thought I knew
