A Mission Forged in Torment

e Ethan Stone had brok

third time I ha

ocial media, admitting I was a clingy, insecure girlfriend. The second time, I had to stand outside his company he

did it. Bec

n extreme sports event he' d orchestrated. A high

right off the bike. I looked down at the sheer drop, my stomach tw

through the earpiece he' d insisted I wear. It w

owed ha

My friends are all watchi

ure surrounded by his wealthy, laughing friends. He raised his champagne

flared. I

e pounding in my ears. I focused on the ramp on the

ng my mother' s face. Healthy. Smiling

sped

r a single, terrifying moment, I w

m the side. The bike tilted violently. I

ke it to th

n. I heard a sickening crack as I landed, a blast of pure

hards of my shattered leg bone were sticking out t

ea washed over me. I tried to push m

over, their faces pale with shock. One

cold voic

ha

aising glint in his eyes, as if I were a piece of equipment that had

voice carrying an authority no one dared ques

s expensive suit jacket not ev

ed, a twisted smile on his lips. "

led out his phone.

up, C

on blurry with tears of

voice losing its playful edge. "My

laything. I' d given up my friends, my hobbies, my entire life to revolve ar

face for support. Every movement sent a fresh

ll, plastering my hair to my face and soaking my clot

to his car, he held the

protégé," he called her. She was wearing a dress that I recognized-one I had pic

ely, draping his jacket

he asked her, his voice full

ze a mixture of pity and triu

to me. His face was a cold mask. "I'm throwing a party tonigh

st. It was an ord

sliver of a promise in his voice, "we

hat kept me going. It was the reason

vis, aspiring arc

ther. My real mother, Sarah, was dying from a rare disease. The system promised to cure her if I compl

ing me breakfast in bed and hold me when I had nightmares. I thought the task would be ea

r the first time. He said I was boring him. And that'

at his true love was buried under layers of narcissism and cruelty

pain, the constant presence of Brit

uldn't win his love in one more month, I would give up.

had to surviv