Chapter 76: The Puppet Master of the Granthams
Eryx stood in the grand hall of the mansion, his expression void of warmth as he looked at Matilda. If his mother was the first person he hated most in this world, then his grandmother didn’t even make the list because hate required some level of emotion, and Matilda was beyond that. She wasn’t someone to despise; she was something to be wary of. Pure, calculated evil.
She sat with her usual air of superiority, a glass of wine in one hand, watching him like he was just another pawn on her chessboard. The silence stretched between them, but Eryx didn’t speak first. He knew better than to play into her games.
Matilda took a slow sip before setting the glass down. "You kept me waiting."
Eryx’s jaw clenched. "Get to the point."
A faint smirk tugged at her lips, but her eyes remained cold. "Impatience doesn’t suit you, Eryx. But very well, let’s talk about your future."
"My future, my decision," he said firmly.
Matilda set her wine glass down with a soft clink, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "Not quite. As a Grantham, you are bound by family expectations. You don’t get to stray from the rules."
Eryx exhaled sharply, already tired of whatever scheme she had planned. "Spare me the lecture. Just say what you want."
Her expression remained unreadable, but there was a certain finality in her tone as she said, "Marriage."
His body tensed. "What?"
"You heard me," Matilda continued smoothly. "It’s time you settled down with someone fitting. A union that benefits the family."