Mother's True Love.

Confrontation.

The evening air was thick with tension as Alex made his way home through the dimly lit alley. Something felt off. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, and he glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. Was he being followed? He quickened his pace, the rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoing against the brick walls.

As he approached the intersection, the unsettling feeling intensified. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Linda. Alex squinted, trying to place her. The memory clicked—Jules' mom.

"What do you want?" he asked, his heart racing.

Linda stepped closer, her expression twisted with anger. "You're Alex, right?" she sneered. "I heard you've been hanging around my daughter. You need to stay away from Emily."

Taken aback, Alex shook his head. "What? Why would I do that? Emily's my friend."

"Friend?" Linda spat. "She's not your friend. She's a troubled girl, and you're just another bad influence in her life. If you don't want things to go worse for you, I suggest you back off."

"Worse for me? What are you talking about?" Alex challenged, defiance flaring within him. He wasn't going to let this woman intimidate him.

Linda's eyes narrowed dangerously, and without warning, she lunged forward, brandishing a beer bottle she had been holding. "You think you're tough? I'll show you tough!"

Before Alex could react, she swung the bottle at his head. It connected with a sickening thud, and pain exploded across his temple. Warm blood trickled down his cheek. He staggered but quickly regained his footing, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, even as he wiped the blood from his brow, determination coursing through him.

Furious, Linda lunged again, but Alex darted to the side, narrowly avoiding her grasp. He didn't want to hurt her; he just wanted to escape. He bolted down the alley, heart racing as he ran as fast as he could, the sound of Linda's shouting fading behind him.

Once he was far enough away, he paused to catch his breath, leaning against a lamppost. The throbbing in his head matched the racing of his heart, but he couldn't let this stop him. He had to get to Emily and make sure she was safe.

What if Linda did something crazy? He couldn't shake the thought. Alex pulled out his phone, typing a quick message to Emily: "We need to talk. I'm coming over. Stay inside."

He knew he had to get to her before Linda did. The last thing he wanted was for Emily to end up in the middle of this mess.

As he turned and headed toward her apartment, Alex's mind raced with possibilities. How had Linda become so unhinged? He couldn't understand her fierce protectiveness over Jules, especially when it seemed to be driving her to irrational behavior.

But that didn't matter now. All that mattered was getting Emily away from Linda's reach. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her—not now, not ever.