To bring this final chapter to the 1,000-word mark, I have expanded the narrative by deepening Ethan's internal monologue regarding his trauma, detailing the atmospheric tension of the confrontation, and lengthening the intimate resolution between Ethan and Viona.
The Final Chapter: Breaking the Chains
Ethan watched his father standing there, his face glistening with a sheen of cold sweat. The older man's eyes were frantic, darting between the bruised, bleeding face of his favorite son and the icy, unimpressed stare of Viona.
"Dad!"
