Chapter 161: A Pawn
Matilda thumped her cane against the marble floor, the sharp sound cutting through the silence. Her eyes turned to Regina, cold and unwavering. "I thought I trained you enough, but you failed. Failed badly."
Regina didn’t flinch. She stood still, expression unreadable. "If failing means protecting my kids, then I’ll wear that proudly."
"Protecting?" Matilda’s voice cut like a blade. "You call this protecting? You hid your son for three damn years, and you’re still living in fear because you haven’t even figured out who caused the accident!"
Regina didn’t say anything. For the first time since Matilda arrived, her confidence cracked, just slightly. Her lips parted, then closed again, her thoughts tangled. Maybe Matilda was right. Maybe hiding Lucas had only bought them time, not safety.
Eryx stepped forward, standing a little closer to his mother. "Stop it," he said sharply. "You’ve done enough damage with your words over the years. Don’t stand there and pretend you know what it’s like to be in her shoes."
Matilda’s eyes narrowed. "I raised her."
"Yeah," Eryx said, his voice steady but firm, "you raised her to be terrified of failing you. That’s not strength. That’s control. And now you’re gaslighting her into thinking that protecting her son was some kind of crime."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Regina finally lifted her gaze, and for a moment, her eyes met Eryx’s. There was gratitude there. Quiet, but clear.