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.

Mrs. Donovan sighs, her eyes softening with a hint of sadness.

"Ethan has his demons, dear. But I’ll have a word with him."

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.

On her way home, she spots Peter, her childhood friend, leaning against his bicycle. His brow furrows as soon as he sees her.

Peter (concerned):

"Lily? What happened to you?" He gestures toward the faint bruise forming on her wrist, where Ethan had grabbed her too harshly.

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.

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.

Mom (narrowing her eyes):

"Peter, why are you carrying that? What happened to Lily?"

Before Lily can make up an excuse, Peter blurts out, "She got hurt by Mrs. Donovan's grandson."

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.

Mom (fuming):

"No one lays a finger on my daughter. We’re going to have a word with this boy."

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 

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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?"

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?"

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.

Lily’s mother wasted no time. "Did you hurt my daughter? Did you really strike her?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.

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."

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!"

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.

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.

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."

Ethan didn’t even look at her. His focus remained entirely on Lily’s mother, his jaw clenched.

"Apologize," Mrs. Donovan repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "This has gone too far."

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."

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."

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?"

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."

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."

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.

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."

But Ethan’s gaze remained fixed, unyielding. "I’ve already apologized," he muttered, as if the words didn’t matter anymore.

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.

Lily’s stomach churned as they walked away. Ethan’s apology had felt empty, and his attitude left a bitter taste in her mouth.

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.

“Lily,” her mother said softly, “I need you to remember something, something important.”

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.

“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.”

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.

“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.