My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 89: Power And Sacrifice

Chapter 89: Power And Sacrifice

Matilda stood up slowly, closing the distance between them. "Do you think, just because I let you lead the company, that I approve of you?" She smirked, pausing to meet his gaze. "I could take back everything I’ve given you with just a flick of my fingers."

Eryx’s fists clenched at his sides, but he said nothing, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He knew Matilda well enough to recognize the cruel truth in her words. While Regina was the current chairman of Solterra Group, Matilda’s iron grip over the company’s wealth and investments made her the true power behind the scenes.

Matilda chuckled darkly, her voice filled with a cold amusement. "You think you’re in control? You think your little position means something? You’re nothing more than a puppet, Eryx." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "I’ve been pulling the strings all along."

She stepped closer, her gaze never leaving him. "If you step out of line, if you think you can challenge me, I’ll take everything from you. And I won’t hesitate. Not even for a second." She then glanced over his shoulder, her eyes landing on Lunara. "Take better care of your little wife, or better yet, put her in a cage before someone else decides to."

Eryx’s chest tightened as her words hit their mark. He stepped forward, his anger bubbling over, but he held back, knowing that any wrong move could lead to disastrous consequences. Matilda always had a way of twisting things, and now Lunara, who had nothing to do with their power struggles, was being dragged into it.

Matilda’s smirk deepened as she watched his reaction, the satisfaction evident in her eyes. "I don’t care how you do it, but you better leave her, Eryx. It’s the only way you’ll ever truly belong to this family again."

Her voice dropped lower, sharp and threatening. "If you don’t, I’ll make sure she’s the one who pays for your disobedience. You think you can keep her by your side and still hold on to everything? Think again."

Eryx’s eyes flickered with a dangerous intensity, but Matilda’s words struck deep, reminding him of just how much control she still had over everything. She had made her stance clear, either he left Lunara, or the consequences would be far worse than he could imagine.

Matilda closed the distance, her voice now colder than ever. "You’ll do as I say. You will leave her, or she will be nothing more than a casualty in your little game."

Eryx wouldn’t lie, her threat hit where it hurt but he wasn’t stupid enough to leave Lunara exposed. She was never meant to be dragged into this war, but the moment she married him, she became a piece on the board. What Matilda didn’t know was that he had already started moving his pieces.

He didn’t answer her directly. Instead, his silence carried a warning of its own.

"What?" Matilda sneered. "Do you think I’m joking?"

Eryx’s eyes darkened. "No. I think you’ve spent so long playing god, you forgot you’re just an old woman clinging to power that shouldn’t be yours anymore."

Matilda’s expression stiffened, but he didn’t stop.

"Maybe it’s time you stopped meddling and started making peace with yourself. Because if you keep going like this, you won’t just lose this family...you’ll die with nothing but your grudges."

Matilda’s lips curled into a bitter smile, though her eyes blazed with fury. "So, that’s how you speak to the one who kept your family from falling apart? The one who made sure you had something to inherit?"

Eryx didn’t flinch. "You didn’t keep anything together. You just made sure everyone was too afraid to breathe without your permission."

Regina, still standing by the side, tensed but she didn’t speak. Naomi lowered her gaze.

Matilda’s voice dropped, venom lacing every word. "You forget who controls this family, Eryx. One wrong move, and everything under your name disappears. You think you can save her with no money, no power?" She pointed at Lunara, with her head slightly tilted. "You won’t even know when she’s gone."

That was enough.

Eryx stepped forward, his voice low but sharp. "Then come for me. Not her. You want to break something? Break me."

Matilda narrowed her eyes, the tension between them crackling like a storm on the verge of breaking.

But Eryx didn’t back down this time. He met her stare with a calm she hadn’t expected, one that only made her angrier.

"She’s not the one who entered your world, Matilda," he said. "I did. And I’m not leaving her behind."

A long, dangerous silence followed.

Then Matilda slowly turned away, as if the conversation no longer interested her.

But her voice, cold and measured, echoed through the room as she walked away.

"We’ll see how long your conviction lasts... when the cost becomes too high."

She paused, then turned sharply to Regina.

"You. Is this what you call raising a son? Letting him grow into something soft... disobedient... unfit to lead?"

Regina didn’t reply. As always, she bore the blow in silence.

But this time, Eryx didn’t stay silent.

"Don’t you dare talk to her like that."

Matilda turned slowly, eyes narrowing at Eryx.

"You’ve used her your entire life. She followed your orders, buried her pride, raised us in your shadow, all to keep this family from tearing itself apart." His voice cracked slightly, but he pushed through it. "She gave up everything, and you still treat her like she’s disposable."

He took a step closer, standing firm between Matilda and Regina.

"She’s not weak. You are. You’ve ruled this family with fear for so long, you’ve forgotten what real strength looks like. It’s not controlled. It’s a sacrifice. And she’s the only one here who’s done that without expecting anything in return."

Regina’s breath hitched, quiet, almost invisible but it was enough for Eryx to hear.

Matilda stared at him, but Eryx didn’t blink.

"For once in your life, look around. You’re not the only one holding this family together. And if I have to choose between being the man you want... or the one she raised..." he glanced back at Regina, then returned his gaze to Matilda, steady and unflinching, "I’ll choose her. Every damn time."