Ethan sat quietly near the tall windows of his family home.
The white marble hallway felt colder than it ever had before.
Sunlight washed across the clean white walls and touched the big American flag on the wall.
It was a quiet afternoon in the quiet luxury mansion.
Yet Ethan knew that everything around him was built on dark lies.
He placed his right hand firmly over the handle of his black cane.
His fingers gripped the heavy handle until his own knuckles turned pale.
Across the high grand hallway stood Victoria, his wealthy blonde fiancée.
She wore a bright gold sequin dress that glittered under the high chandeliers.
Victoria looked down at him with an icy expression on her face.
She had not shown him any real warmth since his car crash last month.
Ethan watched her every step as she slowly walked over to his side.
The sharp sound of her high heels echoed off the hard white marble floors.
Victoria: You just sit there like a piece of broken furniture every single day.
Ethan: I am doing the best I can to recover from that terrible crash.
Victoria: Your best is nowhere near good enough for someone in my position.
Victoria stepped right up to the side of his heavy black wheelchair.
She leaned her head down close until he could smell her strong floral perfume.
Her cold fingers reached out and touched the side of his tense face.
She held his chin tightly between her long painted fingertips.
Victoria: Now you're just a useless cripple.
Victoria: I'll marry a powerful man instead.
Ethan did not move his head away from her icy touch.
He stared straight into her dark eyes without showing any fear.
He could hear the quiet ticking of the grand clock near the front entrance.
Victoria widened her eyes dramatically and let out a soft taunting laugh.
She truly believed that Ethan had no power left to defend himself.
She believed his vast family estate was now completely open for her to take.
She thought his tragic accident had broken his spirit along with his body.
Ethan felt a deep flame of quiet anger burn inside his chest.
He kept his mouth shut tight and let her enjoy her false victory.
Every word she spoke was giving him the exact proof he needed.
Victoria pulled her hand back and smoothed down her shiny gold dress.
Victoria: You should sign over the mansion trust fund to me before tomorrow morning.
Ethan: The trust fund stays right where my father placed it years ago.
Victoria: You won't have a choice once my corporate lawyer gets involved with this estate.
Ethan gripped his cane tighter and waited for the next moment to come.