Ethan walked across the patio with fast heavy steps.
Ethan: Go ahead... say that again.
Chloe spun around quickly as her name was spoken out loud.
Her face instantly lost all of its proud color in seconds.
The mean smirk disappeared from her lips like magic in daylight.
Chloe: Ethan! Oh my goodness, I was trying to help her!
Chloe: She slipped and fell into the deep end by accident!
Ethan did not listen to a single word of her lies.
He dropped to his knees right at the wet edge of the pool.
He reached down with both hands to grab his mother's arms.
Ethan: You are safe now, Mom.
Ethan: I am right here with you.
He lifted Victoria safely out of the deep water with strength.
She trembled heavily in his arms as she sat on the stone deck.
He wrapped his dark suit jacket tightly around her cold shoulders.
Victoria clung to her son like a child in the dark.
Victoria: I thought you would not hear me, Ethan.
Victoria: She pushed me when I asked about the trust papers.
Ethan held his mother close and kissed her wet gray hair.
He turned his gaze back up toward Chloe with absolute fury.
Chloe backed away slowly toward the glass doors of the mansion.
Her hands shook as she tried to smooth her champagne gown down.
Chloe: Ethan, honey, she is confused again today!
Chloe: You know how her mind gets when she gets tired!
Chloe: I would never hurt your sweet mother like that!
Ethan stood up slowly and stood between Chloe and his mother.
He was tall, strong, and completely done with all her terrible games.
The air on the patio felt tense enough to snap in half.
He was going to protect his family no matter what cost came.