Alissa's POV
I sat by the river, my feet submerged in the icy water. Above me, the tree's fluffy catkins swayed gently in the breeze, drifting lazily in the air.
Elias fetched a kettle of water from the river. "Ethan’s only nineteen. Boys that age are bound to be a little rebellious," Elias said, placing the filled kettle on the riverbank.
"It’s not about his age," I replied with a faint smile.
I knew Ethan all too well. Pampered from a young age, he’d grown up believing the world would hand him anything he wanted. I was the exception.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why he was so patient with me—patient in a way I thought he could never be with anyone else.
"And look at you," I added, glancing at Elias. "You’re only three years older than him, yet you’re supporting your entire fam
