Chloe dropped the garden hose onto the wet marble tiles with a loud clatter. She smoothed down her red gown, putting on a fake, pouty expression as she took a step toward Daniel.
Chloe: Daniel, listen to me. I was just trying to clean her up before your corporate guests arrived!
Daniel: You were spraying my mother with a high-pressure hose!
Chloe: She ruined my designer dress! She grabbed my arm while I was checking the catering setup near the courtyard!
Sarah: That's a lie, Mr. Vance! Mrs. Vance was just sitting on the stone bench feeding the birds!
Chloe: Shut your mouth, maid! Nobody asked for your opinion!
Martha: Daniel... my chest hurts so much...
Daniel: Stay right there, Mom. Don't move.
Daniel turned his head slowly back to Chloe. His jaw was clenched tight, his eyes burning with a dark, terrifying anger.
Chloe: Don't look at me like that, Daniel. I am going to be your wife next month! I have a right to manage this mansion!
Daniel: You don't have a right to touch anyone in my family!
Before Chloe could take another step, Daniel stepped forward and delivered a heavy, forceful slap straight across her face. The sharp impact cracked through the garden courtyard like a gunshot.
Chloe let out a loud scream as her head snapped sideways in shock. She stumbled backward onto the wet marble tiles, clutching her red, burning cheek with both hands.
Chloe: Ah! You... you hit me?!
Daniel: Touch my mother again, and you're out of this house forever!
Chloe: How dare you! My father is funding your company's new logistics deal!
Daniel: I don't care about your father's money! I care about my mother!
Daniel immediately turned away from Chloe and dropped to his knees on the wet marble beside Martha. He unbuttoned his navy suit jacket and gently wrapped his arms around his soaked, trembling mother, hugging her tightly in a protective embrace.
Daniel: I've got you, Mom. You're safe now.
Martha leaned her head against his chest, her hands trembling as she held onto his shirt sleeves.
Martha: Thank you, son... I thought she was going to drown me...
Daniel: Nobody is ever going to hurt you again. Sarah, help me get her inside to a warm room.
Sarah: Right away, Mr. Vance. I already prepared warm towels in the main master suite.
Chloe pushed herself up from the wet marble floor, her red gown dripping with water near the hem, her hair disheveled and her eyes flashing with pure hatred.
Chloe: You're choosing this senile old woman over me, Daniel?
Daniel: That 'senile old woman' built the company you're trying so hard to marry into, Chloe.
Chloe: She can't even remember what day of the week it is! She belongs in a private nursing home!
Sarah: Mrs. Vance remembers everything, Miss Chloe! She remembers what you did in her private office yesterday!
Chloe froze, her jaw dropping open slightly as her eyes darted toward Sarah.
Chloe: What are you talking about, servant?
Sarah: I'm talking about the legal papers you took from her private safe while Mr. Vance was at the airport!
Daniel paused as he lifted his mother gently into his arms. He turned his head, staring at Sarah with a sharp, piercing look.
Daniel: What papers, Sarah?
Sarah: The forged trust fund documents, sir. Mrs. Vance found them hidden inside Miss Chloe's vanity drawer this morning.
Chloe's face turned completely white under her heavy makeup as Daniel lifted his mother and carried her past the French doors into the warm mansion hallway.