Our Son, the Protector

Sneaking out of Pilar's House, Ethan Martin quickly gets on his bike, and rides to Ethan's work.

"I won't let my father hurt mom again, I swear I won't!"

Getting to Crane Industries, Ethan Martin chains his bike to a tree and then goes into the building. Taking the elevator up to the 15th floor, he takes a few deep breaths, preparing for the confrontation.

"I have to do this. I have to protect mom and Gracie." Walking through the offices, Ethan Martin finds his father's office, with the secretary right behind him.

"Honey, you can't go in there, he's busy." The secretary tells him gently.

"Screw that, that's my father, and I will see him!" Barging the door open, Ethan is stunned to see his son come charging in. "What the hell is going on?"

"I'm sorry sir, I tried to stop him." Ethan's secretary says in a panic.

"It's alright, Marge, just please close the door."

"As you wish."

After Marge closes the door, Ethan looks at his son. "You will NEVER do that again, you hear me?"

"I will do whatever I have to."

"Don't you dare talk to me like that, Ethan Martin. I'm your father!"

"Yeah, then why aren't you acting like one? Damnit, dad, how could you do this to us?"

Sighing, Ethan sits back in his chair. "Who told you?"

"No one. I learned on my own. Don't brush this off, why did you cheat on mom?"

"I didn't cheat on your mother. I love her very much."

"Well, that's not what I hear. I have my mother angry as anything right now, changing mine and Gracie's lifestyles just to get away from you. YOU tell me what I'm supposed to do, dear old dad. How could you hurt us like this?"

"If you would let me explain…"
"EXPLAIN? Explain! Mom found you with your ex wife, and you want to explain? This ought to be great!"

"Ethan Martin, I never EVER wanted to cheat on your mother. Gwen tricked me."

"That sounds lame, dad, coming from you."

"It's the truth! You're too young to understand."

"Don't even give me that! I'm not young! I'm 17 years old! About to go to college! I can't do this by myself, dad! I can't be the man of the house! That's YOUR job!"

"I know, son."

"If Gwen tricked you, then why aren't you fighting for us?"

"I'm trying! It seems that your mother's stubbornness is taking over her thinking."

"Well, try harder! Make her see the truth!"

"Ethan Martin, I love your mother, only your mother."

"Well, she tells a different story, dad."

"I realize that. But, I swear to you, Ethan Martin, I would NEVER cheat on your mother. I love her."

"Prove it."

"How?"

"Fix this. Fix our family. I'm only 17. I can't be the man of the house right now. I have school and college to focus on. YOU dad, need to take responsibility for this. You have to be the one to fix this!"

Sighing, Ethan moves closer to his son. "I'm going to do everything I can to fix this, son. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, dad."

"I'm being serious. I will make this up to your mother, and make her see what really went on. We will be a family again."

"I'm still hurt, dad."

"I know, son. We're all hurt. We're going to have to work together to make this work."

"I'll think about it. I better go before mom finds out I left."

"Take care of our girls, Ethan Martin."

"I will."

Watching his son leave, Ethan takes out the family picture he has. "We will be together again, son, I know it."

Coming Up

A surprise visitor

Will Theresa forgive Ethan?