Grant froze.
Shock flashed across his face. My mother had always been the quiet one. The kind who endured. The kind who never fought back, never raised her voice, never raised her hand.
But this time, she did.
The air turned tight, like something invisible had snapped.
No one expected the silence to be broken by Nicholas.
He stepped forward calmly, his voice low but steady. "It's cold. The wind is sharp. In your condition, getting upset isn't good. You should go home and rest."
Just like that, the truth stood clear.
Grant wanted to own her.
Nicholas wanted to protect her.
The difference was obvious. Painfully so.
I quickly followed his lead. "Yeah, Mom. Let's go. The weather's getting worse."
She nodded slowly, the fire in her eyes fading. Then she looked at Nicholas. Her expression softened.
"I'm fine," she said quietly. "Don't worry. Go home."
He nodded.
But he didn't move.
