My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 82: The Damage

Chapter 82: The Damage

Eryx’s arm was still wrapped around Lunara, his body instinctively holding her close even in sleep. As he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was her peaceful, sleeping face. A lazy smile tugged at his lips.

He didn’t know what time it was, nor did he care. All he knew was that after hours of losing themselves in each other, they had finally drifted off just before dawn. And now, with sunlight filtering through the curtains, he couldn’t look away from her.

The world outside could wait.

For now, all he wanted to do was memorize every delicate feature of her face, from the way her lashes rested against her cheeks to the faint curve of her parted lips.

Leaning in, intending to leave a soft peck on her forehead, he suddenly heard a faint vibration.

Eryx sighed, his brows furrowing as he reluctantly pulled away. He glanced around the bed, trying to locate the source of the sound. His phone. But where the hell had he left it?

Still half-dazed from sleep, he scanned the room, his gaze landing on the scattered chaos of last night, his shirt tossed somewhere near the nightstand, Lunara’s clothes mixed in with his. His phone had to be somewhere in that mess.

Running a hand through his hair, he sat up and reached over the edge of the bed, patting blindly around the floor until his fingers brushed against the device. He grabbed it and squinted at the screen.

Tons of miss calls and messages, making him frowned.

Eryx didn’t even get the chance to check his messages or the long list of missed calls before another incoming call flashed across the screen, Callum.

With a sigh, he answered. "What is it?"

"Sir," Callum’s voice was shaky, filled with urgency. "Are you at the Halverson Hotel?"

Eryx’s brow arched. "Did I tell you that yesterday?"

"Sir, this is urgent." Callum barely took a breath before continuing. "I tried to counter the engagement article with the news of your marriage, but it seems like your grandmother stepped in and twisted the narrative. Now, the headlines are making it look like Miss Lunara tricked you into marriage."

Eryx’s jaw clenched. "What?" His voice came out sharper than intended, making him instantly turn to check on Lunara. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake. Lowering his voice, he asked, "So, what’s the reaction now?"

Callum hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "They’re digging into Miss Lunara’s background."

"And?" Eryx’s tone dropped, dangerously cold.

"I managed to block any articles trying to expose her personal information," Callum said carefully. "But... I couldn’t stop the ones spreading on individual social media. It’s spreading fast."

Eryx inhaled deeply, rubbing his forehead as he processed the situation. His grandmother wasn’t just trying to control the narrative, she was throwing Lunara to the wolves.

"Send me everything," he ordered. "Every account, every post. I want to know exactly what’s being said and who started it."

"Yes, sir." Callum paused, then added hesitantly, "Sir, some of these posts are nasty. They’re framing her as a gold digger, a nobody who—"

"That’s enough," Eryx cut him off, his grip on the phone tightening. He didn’t need Callum to spell it out. He already knew how ruthless the media could be, and this was beyond just gossip, it was a direct attack.

His gaze flickered back to Lunara. She was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the storm happening outside these walls.

Eryx stood up, grabbing his clothes from the floor. "I’ll handle this."

"Sir—"

He ended the call without another word.

Dressing quickly, his mind raced through his next steps. Damage control wasn’t enough, he needed to shut this down completely. And more than that, his grandmother needed to understand that she had crossed a line.

As he buttoned his shirt, his phone was getting another call and this time it was from his mother, Regina.

As he buttoned his shirt, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was his mother, Regina.

Eryx sighed before answering. "Mom."

Her voice was cold, controlled, but there was clear anger beneath it. "Is this the way you’re trying to protect her?"

Eryx’s grip on the phone tightened. "I don’t have time for this."

"Being her grandson, you should have predicted every cunning move she would make, yet you still ended up being played!" Regina snapped. "Do you have any idea how much worse this could get? Do you think blocking a few articles is enough? People are already digging into Lunara’s past, twisting every detail they can find."

Eryx ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. "I said I’m handling it."

"No, you’re just reacting," Regina shot back. "By now, the damage is already spreading. Your grandmother knows every move you make like the back of her hand. So tell me, what’s your plan?"

Eryx stayed silent for a moment, closing his eyes before finally replying, "Mom..." Another silence followed.

Regina’s patience was wearing thin. "What is it? Don’t tell me you weren’t ready for this when you were the one who put her in the limelight!"

Eryx exhaled slowly, trying to control his frustration. "I’ll fix it."

"Fix it how?" Regina challenged. "When I told you to prepare her for this world, I meant making sure she could handle the pressure, not throwing her into a scandal unprepared. You knew your grandmother would fight back, yet you still let her take control of the situation."

Eryx ran a hand down his face. "I didn’t think she’d move this fast."

Regina sighed sharply. "That’s exactly the problem. You didn’t think ahead. And now, because of that, Lunara is the one being attacked. People are tearing apart her past, spreading lies, twisting everything they can find about her. This isn’t just gossip anymore, Eryx. It’s a full-blown attack on her reputation."

Eryx’s grip tightened around his phone. He had been so focused on announcing their marriage that he hadn’t prepared for the backlash.

Regina’s voice was firm. "You can’t afford to keep reacting. If you want to protect her, you need to be in control from now on."

Eryx clenched his jaw. "I won’t let them ruin her."

"Then do something about it," Regina said. "Because right now, it looks like you’re already too late."