“Wait,” Ethan said, his voice softer, almost a whisper. “There’s something I need to tell you.”I braced myself, a million thoughts racing through my mind. Was he not disabled after all? Was this some sort of conspiracy concocted by our families? His eyes held mine, and in that moment, I saw a depth of emotion that made me feel as though I was glimpsing his true self for the very first time.

“I’m not entirely paralyzed,” he confessed, his eyes clouded with the weight of his admission. “I can feel and move my legs a bit, but I’ve never let anyone know. Not even my family.”Confusion swirled within me. “Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze turned towards the window, as if seeking answers in the night sky. “After the accident, everyone treated me differently. They pitied me, expected so little from me. For the first time, I could see their true intentions. I realized how many people were around me just for my family’s wealth.”