🕯️Trigger Warning:
* Emotional manipulation and neglect
* Familial conflict
* Infidelity references
* Controlling/possessive relationship dynamics
* Discussions of coercive mate expectations
* Drug use references
* Illegal fighting references
* Emotional distress and crying
* Gaslighting and social isolation themes
* Power imbalance in relationships
* Mild intimidation/coercive atmosphere
Nyx
I turned my focus to Florien. "I assume if you are here, you have something to add to this meeting. What do you have, Crest House Heir Florien Salgrave?"
He straightened up from his slouch and put his plate down. "Yes, I have some information to share."
"Then we will start with what you have brought. Maybe it will help set your…Pai's mind at ease since this is information you have compiled." My gaze drifted to the expressionless Master Salgrave. He was looking at his son very stoically, but the relaxed posture told me he did trust Florien.
However, I think he is under the impression that what Florien was about to say would prove him right and me wrong. Delusional until slapped with evidence. It was smart to give Florien some leads and have him dig into things personally.
Florien didn't rush to share. Instead, he moved to the center of the room with a tablet in hand, shoulders squared, expression composed—but there was something under it. Something tight.
Probably guilt, but that is good. It proves I was right that he cares deeply for Zen. If this family keeps treating Zen so neglectfully, I'm adopting her into our family. Now that I know, I will not look away for anyone's comfort.
"Over the past five years," he began, voice controlled but warm with anger, "there has been a pattern of isolation regarding irmãzinha (little sister) Zen's interactions within the family." Master Salgrave's eyes narrowed.
"Florien." Florien didn't stop. "Irmã (sister) Ximena has been repeatedly assigned extended business trips under the direction of Mãe Nina," he continued. "This often left irmãzinha Zen alone in the downtown townhouse with Mãe Nina being her primary visitor."
"After irmãzinha Zen moved out, our paternal grandparents and I attempted to visit often, but whenever Mãe Nina knew we intended to visit, excuses were made either by her or Zen for why we shouldn't. So most of our successful visits over the years occurred because we spontaneously visited her wherever she was when we called."
Master Salgrave's expression shifted with confusion and disbelief. He looked at Nina with silent questions. Oh. What did he think was going on at the townhouse? What lies are being brought to light?
"When I asked the staff and irmãzinha Zen's previous personal maid—Mãe Nina hadn't let her transfer to the townhouse—they told me that Zen hadn't chosen to relocate to the townhouse just to be closer to the academy but to also get away from Mãe Nina's influence," Florien went on.
"However, Mãe Nina maintained influence over her schedule and social expectations because you kept allowing her control over Zen's affairs."
Silence. I enjoyed watching Nina trying to explain. I saw her try to undo the silence sigil so she could regain control of the narrative.
But Zen is good at what she does, and Nina, according to her dossier, is only Ember 4 tier and has been for years. Since she was weaker than Zen, by the time she undid the sigil, it would already be too late.
"During this period," Florien continued, voice tightening slightly, "there have been repeated instances of verbal undermining directed toward irmãzinha Zen's confidence, judgment, and social conduct. Every negative thing we have heard about Zen over the years has not been true. Mãe Nina has simply been suppressing and controlling Zen however she could."
Zen's shoulders went rigid beside me. I pulled Zen into my arms just as Master Salgrave pushed Nina out of his. Florien paused, looking worriedly at Zen, but I gestured for him to continue.
"When the Ivy family began seeking potential matches," he said, "Irmãzinha Zen accepted Mãe Nina's arrangement under the belief that the person she'd been speaking to was a kindred spirit. Also, she accepted the arrangement because Mãe Nina told her it would help her regain your approval."
He paused. "However, Byron Ivy hid his true self from Zen until she was invested and had invited him to join the Sentinel program here in the capital." Master Salgrave's face drained of color. "Clarify."
Florien's jaw tightened. "He realized quickly that Zen had more in common with his twin Säntiägo than with him. Not wanting to give this opportunity to his brother, he tricked Säntiägo into helping him deceive Zen. What he didn't account for was Säntiägo and Zen connecting on a discussion board."
"Byron had been using Säntiägo's username previously, so she thought she was connecting with her boyfriend only to discover the lie. By that point, it was too late to stop Byron from coming."
Florien opened his mouth, closed it, looked at my raised brow, then continued his report with guilt on full display. "Zen had tried to talk to Mãe Nina about the deception but was told to try to make it work." Florien, the butler, and Master Salgrave all were unable to look at Zen now. Nina, however, was glaring at me. I didn't create this situation; I was just fixing it.
"Mãe Nina pressured her by telling her that we had deals in place that couldn't be cancelled simply because Byron wasn't who she thought he was. Mãe Nina has been playing interference, so for this past year, even I didn't know how bad things were in their relationship."
I lifted my hand slightly, "Pause." Florien stopped immediately. I pushed Zen into a sitting position. Líma always knew what I needed. She handed over a handkerchief, and I cleaned up Zen's face.
"Tell him. Tell your Pai the truth." She froze. I could smell her fear, anger, and humiliation all tangled together. It must all be pressing against her ribs like something that had been waiting too long to be let out.
"You don't have to soften it," I said quietly. "You don't have to protect anyone." Her breath hitched. Then slowly, she spoke. "He cheats on me, gets into illegal fights, does drugs, and has used his connection as your future son-in-law to attempt to steal some of our exclusive technologies, but I've blocked him each time." The room went still.
"He wasn't subtle in his attempts. I've just been covering for him," Zen continued, her voice gaining strength with each word. "He doesn't think he needs to hide his activities. He believes everything he does is within his rights as my future Alpha."
Zen stared into her Pai's eyes, and he stared back. Very troubled eyes he has there. What has he been so focused on that he didn't see his youngest drowning?
"He is blatantly disrespectful. I'm not the type to stop him from seeking other mates, but there is a way to do so and be respectful to me as his current partner," she went on. "What he is doing is simply fucking around, then lying about it. I get multiple notifications every other day on social media of him partying with escorts and friends." Zen never broke eye contact with her Pai.
I admit, I took a bit of pleasure in seeing the heartbreak on his face as he listened to the receipt of Byron's misdeeds.
"Why he chooses to act this way, I don't know. But when I call him out…" Zen's laugh was humorless. "He tells me it's normal. That as an Alpha, he can do whatever he wants." Zen had gone so numb that her voice didn't even waver.
She was just telling her truth. Daring her family to deny their negligence. Florien had retaken his seat. From his frustrated tears, he hadn't known this aspect of the Byron situation.
He had a role to play in this too. He was ignorant, but ignorance wasn't always an excuse for letting someone you loved suffer. "He wants a harem." Her voice was flat.
"He wants to be the focus of every relationship. It doesn't matter if I like or love these other people. All that matters is what he wants. My desires won't matter. He told me verbatim that I should be grateful to be the primary mate. This is who you want me to stay in a relationship with, Pai. Quite the catch, isn't he?"
Florien's hand tightened around the tablet. He ended up cracking it. Nina was desperately trying to undo Zen's sigil. But it was Master Salgrave's flinch that made this all worth it.
Ah. He finally gets that this isn't a tantrum. This isn't the cry for attention he was led to believe. Well, if he even knew Zen, he would know that she wouldn't do that kind of shit anyway.
I watched Master Salgrave as it really hit him. Not the words. The reality behind them. The way his daughter sat beside me—tense, exhausted, but finally speaking without restraint. Master Salgrave's shoulders sagged. "I…" he started, then stopped. He tried again with a broken voice and watery eyes. "I didn't know."
"You didn't look," I corrected quietly. He closed his eyes as my words landed. "I trusted—" he tried to give a different excuse. "You delegated your responsibility to your daughter," I corrected again. His eyes opened with pain and tears pouring out. Zen's hold on my hand tightened. Her anger hadn't cooled as he continued trying to explain his failure.
"I was handling your mother's condition," he said to Zen, his voice unsteady. "The business expansions were time-consuming. Your older siblings have been needing help getting into their chosen fields. I thought…" He exhaled shakily.
"I thought you were being treated well. Nina said she had things under control. That I could focus on more urgent matters. I intended…once things settled down in the next month, to call you home to talk with you about your life plans. I hadn't forgotten you. I've just been busy." Zen didn't respond. She just blinked at him.
Florien leaned over to take Zen's other hand. "I should have noticed sooner," he said. "There were inconsistencies. Patterns that didn't align. Ximena kept telling me that I needed to check on you more. That every time she was home, you seemed to be hiding something." He bowed his head.
"This is my failure. Teu irmão mais velho (your eldest brother) failed you, irmãzinha."
Master Salgrave shook his head once, hard. "No," he said hoarsely. "This is mine." He turned toward Zen fully now.
"Como seu pai, sinto muito. (As your dad, I'm so sorry)" He reached out towards her, then pulled his hand back when Zen's expression didn't soften.
"I should have asked," he said. "I should have noticed your absence. I should have…" His voice broke again. Zen's breath hitched beside me. I squeezed her hand lightly. He wasn't done. "I will speak with the Ivy family," he continued, forcing the words out now. "The engagement will be dissolved. Immediately."
Relief hit Zen like a physical force. I felt it in the way her body sagged against mine. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement. Nina was trying to use Master Salgrave's apology as a smokescreen to stand and leave. Unfortunately for her, the butler silently stepped into her path. He was unyielding in letting her pass him.
Master Salgrave didn't look at Nina when he spoke. "Escort my wife to our room," his tone was cold. "And remain with her until I come to speak with her."
The butler inclined his head. "Yes, sir."
Nina's eyes burned as she was guided out—silent and finally powerless. When the door closed behind her, the room sighed in relief. Cortez Salgrave's body relaxed as well, then he carefully picked out some treats and poured himself some lemonade. "I regret," he said while munching on something that looked like a blue oatmeal raisin cookie,n"that we will not be joining families with the Ivys."
"The deals we are negotiating would have helped us keep our edge as the top Crest House in the Ajei Enclave. The Myroni Crest House has begun dipping their toes into the tech field after we turned down collaborating with them. Not sure where they are getting their experimental tech from. "
I couldn't look at Master Salgrave as he vented his regret. I nudged Zen, who was eating a slice of cake, like this situation no longer had anything to do with her. She looked at me with an annoyed expression, but I just smiled.
She huffed, then swallowed her bite under the curious eyes of her brother and dad. They had noticed our interaction. "You may not have to cancel your negotiation completely, Pai."
This comment raised both men's eyebrows, though Florien's quickly lowered with suspicion.
"Säntiägo Ivy has…mentioned he would be interested in courting me." Florien blinked rapidly, and Master Salgrave looked intrigued by this plot twist.