Uncrowned Princess

14

Ethan sat in the dimly lit staff room, swirling a glass of wine absently as he stared into the middle distance. The ringing of his phone cut through his thoughts, and he answered it quickly.

"Hello sweetie, how's my favorite girl?" His voice softened immediately, a smile playing at his lips.

"I'm fine, Ethan. I missed you. Aren't you coming back?" The innocent voice of his nine-year-old sister tugged at his heart.

Ethan's smile faltered. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Your brother has some work to do, but I'll come visit soon."

"I miss you so much, but you don't seem to care. Did you find another girl you prefer?" The hurt in her voice was palpable.

Ethan's grip tightened on the phone. "No, I'd never give your place to another girl. There's only room for one special girl, and that's you, sis." He paused, realizing the potential lie in his words, but his sister's voice broke through.

"Promise?"

Changing the subject, Ethan asked, "What do you want me to bring when I come back?"

"I asked Mom for a Barbie doll, but she said she doesn't have enough money. And Mark doesn't want to waste money on me."

Ethan's jaw clenched, a muscle twitching visibly. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll bring it to you, honey. Don't worry." He paused, then asked carefully, "Tell me, does Mark treat you well?"

"Yeah, he buys me ice cream and sometimes gets me toys to play with," his sister replied, her voice small and innocent. "But..."

Ethan sat up straighter, tension radiating through his body. "But what, sweetheart?"

"He kicked Mom. I hate him," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Ethan's eyes closed, his free hand curling into a fist. He struggled to keep his voice calm. "What do you mean, he kicked Mom?"

"She has a big bruise on the side of her head," his sister explained, unaware of the storm brewing inside her brother.

Ethan's eyes snapped open, blazing with barely contained fury. "Did he hurt you?" he asked, his voice low and intense.

"No, he just yells at me when he's angry with Mom."

Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly he heard a door opening on the other end of the line. His body went rigid as he heard Mark's voice in the background.

"Who are you talking to?"

There was a shuffling sound, and then Mark's voice came through clearly, dripping with false friendliness. "Ethan, it's been a long time. Don't you miss your mom and sister? Maybe you could come visit."

Ethan's knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone. "I'll never set foot in your house," he growled. "My sister – I'll see her when I want, where I want."

Mark's laughter crackled through the speaker. "Oh, Ethan. You studied law for two years but you don't know that you can't see her without your mother's permission?"

Ethan shot to his feet, pacing the small room like a caged animal. "Not your business," he spat.

"Your mother and sister need money," Mark continued, his voice turning cold. "I can't feed hungry mouths, and my baby is coming. Be a man and send the money. You're late."

Ethan's whole body trembled with suppressed rage. "I'll send the money tomorrow," he managed to say through gritted teeth.

He heard Mark's satisfied chuckle before he abruptly ended the call. For a moment, Ethan stood frozen, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. Then, with a roar of frustration, he hurled his wine glass against the wall, watching it shatter into a thousand pieces.