VALENTINE'S DAY

"I swear, only I can shield you!" Ethan exclaimed, grabbing Valentina and slamming her against the wall before she could react. In an instant, he was inches away, his cool breath brushing against her face. "With my strength, no one at school will dare to harm you again." Valentina was stunned, her eyes wide with fear she had never imagined this side of Ethan. A sense of hypocrisy hung heavy, and a surge of anger welled up inside her. "You mean the same power you used against me? Do you think you're any better than the rest?" she whispered, barely audible. Ethan scowled, gripping her shoulders firmly and pressing her against the wall, making Valentina squeeze her eyes shut from fear. "I don't care what you think, Val," he murmured, his voice low against her face. He roughly grabbed her chin, causing her to wince. "You're not going anywhere anytime soon." Valentina Chandler, a young teen grappling with depression and constant abuse from those around her, fought to maintain a semblance of normalcy each day. The more she yearned for a brighter future, the more impossible it seemed to escape the clutches of her tormentor, Ethan Lords, a powerful figure in school who made her life unbearable. But now, out of the blue, he was no longer bullying her, claiming he needed to protect her. What dark secrets did he hide? What unseen threats loomed for Valentina? And from whom was Ethan determined to shield her?