Page 193 of When We Ignite

That didn’t stop my dad from punching Sebastian. Or the screaming match that followed. Or the threats to press charges.

I’d never seen my dad this furious. Or Sebastian’s. And that was the scariest part—watching them bothunloadon him while he just stood there, silent, pressing ice to his face.

Oliver and Charlotte had to drive back to the house while a mob of reporters swarmed outside, waiting for us to emerge. Oliver managed to keep his father calm for a grand total of five minutes before the yelling started again.

My mom clung to me, crying, asking if I was okay—as if the article had reported that I’d been assaulted.

Henry, ever the problem solver, had the bright idea to separate our families into different rooms, which at least helped keep the decibel levels down. I could still hear Sebastian’s father shouting, but at least I couldn’t make out the words.

“I warned you to stay away from him, Ethan,” my dad snapped, his face red with rage.

“You said thattwodays ago,” I muttered, rubbing my hands over my face. “I’ve been with him for months.”

Charlotte sighed. “I don’t think that’s going to help.”

“They’re not evenlisteningto me.”

At least she wasn’t mad. I had a feeling Oliver had told her before all hell broke loose, and for that, I was beyond grateful.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, but I refused to let them turn this into something it wasn’t. I refused to be scolded like a child when I was fully aware of my choices and their consequences.

“How is this going to look?” my mother cried. “It’s going to be everywhere. Ethan’s just starting his life.”

I rolled my eyes. “Who the fuck cares?”

“We care, Ethan!” she shot back. “Who knows how this will follow you around? Your poor sister just got married, and now we’re going to be the talk of the town?—”

“Why would my relationship affect Charlotte in any way?”

“We need to get him to a therapist,” my dad cut in, his voice tight with fury. “So he can see what that man did to him.”

“For the last fucking time—it was consensual!” My chest burned as I forced myself to stay grounded. “I want to be with him. We want to be together. I’m nineteen; I have a say. You can’t forbid me from seeing him.”

“You are a child who doesn’t know what he wants.”

“Yes, I do.” My voice didn’t waver. “If you actually tried having a conversation with me about anything other than your petty fights, you’d know I’ve made up my mind. I’m going into finance. I know what I want from my life, and I know who I want as my partner.”

“See?” my dad spat, gesturing at me but still talking about me. “He’s been completely brainwashed. Finance, really? And that has nothing to do with what the Langleys do, does it?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “You let this happen,” he accused my mother.

“Me?” she snapped. “Where the hell were you these past few months? I’ve done nothing but push him to take responsibility, to get serious about his life. Thank God he learned it somewhere—because God knows he didn’t learn ambition from you.”

And here we go again.

“He corrupted him,” my dad raged. “If he had proper guidance, none of this would have happened. And a man, to top it off.”

Okay, that was fucking enough.

I stepped forward, my chest burning. “Whatguidancehave either of you given me?” My voice was steel, cutting through the air. “The only thing I’ve learned in the past four years is how to sneak around and stab people who love me in the back.” I let out a bitter laugh. “So yeah, maybe he did influence me. And so what? At least he pushed me to go after what I wanted.”

Charlotte pressed her lips together, trying—and failing—to hide her smile. She looked proud.

“I think you need to trust Ethan’s judgment,” she said, her voice firm. “He’s an adult.”

“Thank you,” I muttered.

My dad waved a dismissive hand. “He’s too young.” His tone was final. Unyielding. “You’re not even acting like yourself.”

Thathit.