My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 88: Love Only Leads To Death

Chapter 88: Love Only Leads To Death

A sharp slap echoed through the quiet room.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Harlan Sterling’s voice thundered as he loomed over his daughter, his hand still trembling from the impact.

He grabbed the nearest tablet from the table, the screen still glowing with the headline about Eryx and Lunara, and hurled it with a crash, just inches from where Valerie was standing.

"Do you think playing it cool like that would help our family?!" he snapped, his chest rising with each breath. "You smiled like a damn guest star while our name burned in the background!"

Valerie didn’t flinch. Her eyes stayed fixed on him, calm and unreadable. She didn’t say a word.

"Matilda won’t let this pass!" Harlan roared, his voice rough with frustration. "We need Grantham, without them, everything falls apart!"

Still, Valerie said nothing. The silence between them stretched uncomfortably, her calmness only fueling his rage.

"Say something!" he demanded.

Valerie finally opened her mouth, her voice low and steady. "You don’t win a war by charging headfirst into fire, Father."

Harlan narrowed his eyes, but she continued before he could interrupt.

"Sometimes, to catch a lion, you have to let it believe it’s still the king of the jungle. Only then can you tame it." Her gaze was sharp now, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "Let Eryx roar. The louder he gets, the more careless he becomes."

Harlan stared at her, stunned into momentary silence.

"And when that happens..." Valerie tilted her head, "we won’t need Grantham. He’ll come to us."

Harlan rubbed his temple, his voice lowering. "You think I don’t know what you’re doing, Valerie? But this isn’t just a game of power. Matilda Grantham only promised to back us if you married Eryx. That deal was clear."

Valerie turned slowly, her expression was still hard to read.

"And I haven’t forgotten it," she said. "But you don’t win against someone like Eryx by chasing him. You make him need you. You make him choose you."

Harlan scoffed. "He already married someone else."

Valerie smiled faintly, not a trace of panic in her eyes. "Then we show him that he chose wrong."

Harlan stared at her, silent for a long moment. "This family can’t afford another scandal, Valerie. Matilda’s watching everything. If we lose her support, we’re done."

"Then you’d better hope Eryx starts looking this way again," she said, already walking toward the door. "Because I’m not just going to marry him. I’m going to make him believe that marrying me is the only choice he has left."

=====

The heavy doors of the Grantham mansion shut behind them with a soft thud. Eryx was still holding Lunara’s hand as he led her inside, his voice low and considerate. "After eating, you need to get some more rest..." His eyes softened as he looked at her, showing a rare tenderness.

The moment they entered the living room, Eryx and Lunara froze. Matilda Grantham sat there, her sharp gaze locking onto them.

Regina and Naomi stood off to the side, silent and still.

Matilda’s eyes narrowed as they locked onto them, and her sharp voice sliced through the silence. "Playing house?" she said coldly, her gaze flicking to Lunara with disdain. "You really think you can hide behind her, Eryx? How... charming."

Lunara’s stomach tightened. She had no idea who this woman was, but the way she spoke, the venom in her tone, made it clear that she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Eryx, however, didn’t flinch. His grip on Lunara’s hand tightened slightly, and his voice was steady. "She’s been through a lot today. If you have something to say, keep it short. We’ll talk tomorrow."

Matilda’s lips twisted into a cruel smile, her eyes never leaving Eryx. "Tomorrow? You think this is something to postpone?" Her voice was laced with mockery. "You’re seriously bringing her into this family? The one you chose, despite everything? What do you think she’s going to bring to the table, Eryx? What’s her value here?"

Lunara’s heart raced, and she couldn’t help but feel the sting of Matilda’s words.

Matilda turned her gaze back to Eryx, her expression one of disdain. "You’ve always been a disappointment. I thought maybe you’d prove me wrong, but now? You’re dragging the family through the dirt."

Eryx’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak. He simply squeezed Lunara’s hand and stepped forward, his stance protective.

But Matilda wasn’t done. She flicked her hand dismissively toward Lunara, as if she were an afterthought. "She doesn’t belong here. You can’t make her fit, Eryx. No matter how hard you try."

Eryx’s expression hardened, and his grip on Lunara tightened. "She doesn’t need to fit into this damn family!" He gently pulled Lunara behind him, positioning himself slightly in front of her. "I’m the one who entered her world."

Matilda’s laugh was cold, echoing through the room. "What a romantic man we have in this family." She turned her gaze to Regina, who was staring at the floor. "I couldn’t quite remember, Regina, did my son have this kind of romanticism? Or was it all just business for him, like everything else?"

Regina’s silence hung in the air, but she didn’t look up, her lips tight and unmoving. Matilda’s words stung, and Eryx felt a pang of frustration. His eyes locked onto his mother before shifting back to Matilda. "What are you doing?"

Matilda smirked, completely unfazed by his words. "What? I’m just asking. Look at your mom, living her life well even when she married out of love. Where do you think love could lead you?"

She paused for a moment, her gaze hardening as she continued, "Love only leads to death, Eryx. Just like it did with your father and even your brother. You think it will save you? No. It drags you down, destroys everything in its path. Do you really want that? To be a fool like your father, thinking love can fix everything?"

Eryx couldn’t hold it anymore. His eyes burned with fury as he roared, "Enough!" His voice echoed through the hall, shaking the tension that had built up between them.