Eleanor stood outside the bedroom door, the cool night air brushing against her bare arms. The grand hallway of the Blackthorne mansion stretched endlessly before her, its silence almost mocking.
"Well, that went as expected," she muttered to herself, her lips pressing into a thin line.
She wasn't naïve enough to believe that Alexander and Sebastian would welcome her with open arms, but their hostility still stung.
As she leaned against the wall, the door to the study opened, and an elderly butler stepped out. "Madam, the Master requests your presence in the main study."
Her heart skipped a beat. Grandfather Blackthorne. The man who had orchestrated this entire marriage.
Straightening her shoulders, Eleanor followed the butler down the long, dimly lit corridor.
---
Inside the study, Richard Blackthorne sat behind a massive mahogany desk, his piercing gray eyes watching her closely. Despite his age, his presence was intimidating—a man used to control and power.
"Sit," he ordered.
Eleanor obeyed, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
"You must be wondering why I called you here," he said, his voice calm yet firm.
Eleanor met his gaze. "I assume it's not to ask about my wedding night."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Richard's face. "No. I called you here to remind you of your position." He leaned forward. "You are a Blackthorne now. That means strength, dignity, and above all, survival. My grandsons may hate this marriage, but they will not dare defy me. You, on the other hand, must prove your worth."
Eleanor swallowed. "And how exactly do I do that?"
Richard's eyes glinted. "By making them accept you. By making them need you. This family is built on power plays, Eleanor. If you do not learn the rules, you will be discarded."
A heavy silence settled between them. Eleanor understood what he was saying—this was not just a marriage; it was a battle.
"I never back down from a challenge," she said, her voice steady.
Richard's smile widened slightly. "Good. Now go, my dear. Show my grandsons why you were chosen."
---
As Eleanor stepped out of the study, her mind raced.
She was not just a pawn in this game—she would become a queen.
And the Devil Brothers would have no choice but to acknowledge her.
---