Chapter 7:
Elara Quinn knew something was wrong the moment Adrian Blackwood's schedule changed.
They were halfway through breakfast when Lucas Reed appeared quietly at the doorway, his expression carefully neutral. "Sir, your grandmother has arrived earlier than expected."
Adrian's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"So soon?" he said.
Elara looked up. "Your grandmother?"
"Yes," Adrian replied, standing. "Evelyn Blackwood."
The name alone carried weight. Even Elara, unfamiliar with his world, had heard it spoken with reverence — and fear. The Blackwood matriarch. The woman who had built the family's legacy long before Adrian ever took control of it.
"She wants to meet you," he added, already adjusting his cufflinks. "Today."
Elara's stomach sank.
They didn't have time to prepare her. There was no warning, no gentle easing into it. By the time Elara stepped into the formal sitting room, Evelyn Blackwood was already seated — elegant, silver-haired, posture straight as steel.
Her eyes lifted slowly, sharp and assessing.
"So," Evelyn said coolly, "this is her."
Elara felt exposed, as though she were being examined for flaws she couldn't hide.
Adrian stepped forward. "Grandmother, this is my wife. Elara."
Evelyn didn't rise. She didn't smile. She simply studied Elara in silence for several long seconds.
"You're younger than I expected," Evelyn finally said.
Elara nodded politely. "I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am."
"Hm." Evelyn's gaze flicked briefly to Adrian. "You chose her quickly."
Elara noticed the emphasis on chose.
"I did," Adrian replied, his tone calm but firm.
Evelyn leaned back slightly. "Tell me, Elara Quinn — do you understand what it means to be a Blackwood?"
Elara hesitated, then answered honestly. "I'm still learning."
Evelyn smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "Good. Because this family does not tolerate weakness. Appearances matter. Loyalty matters. And mistakes…" Her eyes hardened. "Mistakes are not forgiven easily."
Elara felt the words settle heavily in her chest.
Evelyn stood at last, walking slowly around her, circling her like a measured test. "You will be watched," she continued. "Every word. Every step. Every association."
Adrian's voice cut in. "That won't be necessary."
Evelyn stopped and turned to him. "I approved this marriage for a reason, Adrian. Do not forget that."
Silence stretched between them.
Elara realized then — this marriage wasn't only about protection or convenience. It was also a bargain. One made long before she ever agreed to it.
Evelyn's gaze softened just a fraction. "If you behave as expected, you will be safe here."
Safe.
The word didn't comfort Elara. It frightened her.
As Evelyn turned to leave, she paused. "One more thing, Elara."
"Yes?"
"Do not fall in love with my grandson."
The warning was quiet. Absolute.
After she left, the room felt colder.
Elara looked at Adrian, her voice barely above a whisper. "She approved the marriage?"
"Yes."
"And if I don't meet her expectations?"
Adrian's eyes darkened. "Then I'll make sure you never have to face the consequences."
She didn't know whether that promise should reassure her — or terrify her.
Elara Quinn knew something was wrong the moment Adrian Blackwood's schedule changed.
They were halfway through breakfast when Lucas Reed appeared quietly at the doorway, his expression carefully neutral. "Sir, your grandmother has arrived earlier than expected."
Adrian's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"So soon?" he said.
Elara looked up. "Your grandmother?"
"Yes," Adrian replied, standing. "Evelyn Blackwood."
The name alone carried weight. Even Elara, unfamiliar with his world, had heard it spoken with reverence — and fear. The Blackwood matriarch. The woman who had built the family's legacy long before Adrian ever took control of it.
"She wants to meet you," he added, already adjusting his cufflinks. "Today."
Elara's stomach sank.
They didn't have time to prepare her. There was no warning, no gentle easing into it. By the time Elara stepped into the formal sitting room, Evelyn Blackwood was already seated — elegant, silver-haired, posture straight as steel.
Her eyes lifted slowly, sharp and assessing.
"So," Evelyn said coolly, "this is her."
Elara felt exposed, as though she were being examined for flaws she couldn't hide.
Adrian stepped forward. "Grandmother, this is my wife. Elara."
Evelyn didn't rise. She didn't smile. She simply studied Elara in silence for several long seconds.
"You're younger than I expected," Evelyn finally said.
Elara nodded politely. "I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am."
"Hm." Evelyn's gaze flicked briefly to Adrian. "You chose her quickly."
Elara noticed the emphasis on chose.
"I did," Adrian replied, his tone calm but firm.
Evelyn leaned back slightly. "Tell me, Elara Quinn — do you understand what it means to be a Blackwood?"
Elara hesitated, then answered honestly. "I'm still learning."
Evelyn smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "Good. Because this family does not tolerate weakness. Appearances matter. Loyalty matters. And mistakes…" Her eyes hardened. "Mistakes are not forgiven easily."
Elara felt the words settle heavily in her chest.
Evelyn stood at last, walking slowly around her, circling her like a measured test. "You will be watched," she continued. "Every word. Every step. Every association."
Adrian's voice cut in. "That won't be necessary."
Evelyn stopped and turned to him. "I approved this marriage for a reason, Adrian. Do not forget that."
Silence stretched between them.
Elara realized then — this marriage wasn't only about protection or convenience. It was also a bargain. One made long before she ever agreed to it.
Evelyn's gaze softened just a fraction. "If you behave as expected, you will be safe here."
Safe.
The word didn't comfort Elara. It frightened her.
As Evelyn turned to leave, she paused. "One more thing, Elara."
"Yes?"
"Do not fall in love with my grandson."
The warning was quiet. Absolute.
After she left, the room felt colder.
Elara looked at Adrian, her voice barely above a whisper. "She approved the marriage?"
"Yes."
"And if I don't meet her expectations?"
Adrian's eyes darkened. "Then I'll make sure you never have to face the consequences."
She didn't know whether that promise should reassure her — or terrify her.