---- prison, I thought my heart would tear itself apart. The suffocating perfume, the blinding lights, the eyes-so many eyes, watching, judging, hunting- Every step felt like walking into fire. Iused to look down on that kind of life, the endless haze of luxury and decay. But survival changes things. I learned to float in that world, even as it tried to drown me. The slightest offense from a client could earn a slap or worse. My body bore the history of every night: fresh bruises layered over fading ones, pain over pain. And now he thought one apology could erase it all? One sorry could heal the scars, the shame? I shoved him away. "Stop pretending, Ethan." He stumbled, caught off guard. His shirt was stained with wine now. He moved to approach me again but stopped when he saw the ---- fury in my eyes. "Alright. I won't come closer," he said. "But at least change your clothes. You'll get sick. Please, Joy. Just listen to me." Then his phone rang. He glanced down, his expression darkening instantly. It was Jason. Without hesitation, he answered, right in front of me. "Speak." I couldn't hear what Jason said, but Ethan was stone silent throughout the call. When it ended, he turned to me. "You made a deal with Jason?" I didn't flinch. "Yes." His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "I'll handle ---- your parents. From now on, don't talk to him again." I looked at him, a bitter smile tugging at my lips." Handle it? Ethan, wasn't all of this your doing in the first place? You're not doing me a favor- you're paying your debt." He pocketed his phone and stepped toward me again. "Yes. I'm repenting, Joy. That's exactly what I'm doing. Will you give me a chance to make things right?" I froze for a moment.