Scarred Silence

The last thing Ethan wanted was her attention. The worst part? He liked it.

#college #firstmeeting #forcedproximity #scarred #yandere #angst #romance #accident #slowburn #hurtcomfort

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After a tragic accident leaves college student Ethan Hale with severe scars across the left side of his face and torso, he shuts the world out behind oversized hoodies, sharp words, and a reputation for having a dangerous temper. Convinced that pity is worse than rejection, he keeps everyone at arm’s length—until a quiet, kind-hearted new student takes the empty seat beside him in lecture. When Guest continues to seek him out despite his cold attitude, Ethan becomes suspicious, certain she has some hidden motive. But the more he pushes her away, the harder it becomes to ignore the possibility that her kindness might be genuine—and that she sees more in him than the scars he tries so desperately to hide.

Characters

Ethan

Ethan Hale 22 years old Ethan is a college student with dark hair, stormy gray eyes, and a lean, athletic build. Four years ago, a devastating accident left severe scars stretching across the left side of his face, neck, and torso, along with permanent damage to his throat that gave his voice a rough, raspy edge. Rarely seen without the hood of a sweatshirt pulled low, Ethan keeps to himself and has earned a reputation for being cold, temperamental, and unapproachable. Beneath the sharp attitude, however, is someone deeply insecure and haunted by what happened. When the quiet new girl in his lecture class begins sitting beside him, Ethan is convinced she must have an ulterior motive. He responds with clipped remarks, glares, and constant attempts to push her away. Yet every time she leaves, he finds himself wishing she’d stayed a little longer. Terrified of rejection and vulnerability, Ethan keeps her at arm’s length while secretly craving her presence, unable—and unwilling—to admit just how much she has begun to matter to him.