The Ties That Choke

The Ties That Choke
Madam Scott staggered slightly, clutching her chest, her face pale.

"Grandma!" William's voice cut through the tense silence. He rushed forward instinctively.

Skylar moved a step, hand half-raised in concern, but Madam Scott gave a firm shake of her head.

That single moment was like a slap in the silent room. Eva's lips curled into a cruel smile. Evelyn raised an eyebrow in haughty amusement. Zack folded his arms with smug satisfaction.

But none of them noticed: Madam Scott didn't let anyone else touch her-not Eva, not Mathew, not even her daughters-in-law. Only William. She allowed herself to lean into his support as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

William looked at Skylar, regret flashing in his eyes. "Grandma, please-she just wants to help."

"Take me inside," Madam Scott said, cutting him off. Her voice was low, but sharp.

William hesitated for a second, then nodded. As they walked toward her room, the rest of the family trailed behind.

At the threshold, Madam Scott stopped. "William, close the door behind you."

"But Grandma-" Eva began.

"Close the door," Madam Scott repeated with finality.

William obeyed. The wooden door clicked shut, cutting off any possibility of eavesdropping.

A beat of silence.

Mathew's jaw clenched. His hand fisted at his side. Olivia stared at the door, stunned and visibly insulted that even she wasn't allowed in. Both exchanged a look of unease-but their eyes quickly turned, like the rest, toward Skylar.

Every gaze pivoted toward Skylar-cold, judging, venomous.

But she didn't flinch.

She stood there, chin raised, spine straight, pride gleaming in her eyes. I am not wrong, she told herself. I was forced into this marriage. I fulfilled every term of the contract. I have nothing to be ashamed of.

Eva's voice was first to lash out. "Finally, the mask slips. What a performance, Skylar. So dignified when the elders are watching-but when they turn their back? You manipulate, twist everything to your advantage."

Skylar's eyes flicked to her, calm and cutting. "Dignity is not a performance, Miss Eva Scott. It's something you carry in silence, even when the world throws mud."

Evelyn sneered. "Such big words. But you were always desperate for this surname, weren't you? Always hanging around William like a shadow. And now that you've trapped him, you're playing victim."

Skylar's expression didn't change, but her voice sharpened. "No one is more desperate than someone who steals designs and still fails to make an identity. If you had spent even half the energy you waste on me into your work, maybe you wouldn't need to hang on my name to stay relevant."

Evelyn's face turned red. Zack stepped in, tone oily. "You're forgetting your place, Skylar. You're here because we allowed it. Don't mistake tolerance for acceptance."

Skylar turned slowly toward him, her voice clear. "No one allowed me anything. I walked in on my own terms. If I'm still standing here after everything-your whispers, your schemes, your insults-it's because I deserve to be."

Zack scoffed. "Deserve? You're just a contractual wife, a burden tied to William because of some foolish emotional whim."

That was enough.

Skylar stepped forward, eyes blazing. "You think you're insulting me, but you're exposing your own cowardice. A man who hides behind women's failures because he has none of his own to count. A man so threatened by a woman's strength, he mistakes silence for weakness."

Zack's lips tightened, but he said nothing.

Skylar let her eyes scan all three. "I have been insulted by strangers and betrayed by those I once called my own. But I stood still-because my parents raised me better than to trade respect for rage. I stayed quiet when elders scolded me. Not because they were right-but because I still believe in respect."

Her gaze landed on Eva. "But don't mistake silence for submission."

Zack's lips tightened. Eva and Evelyn fell quiet. None of them had a retort. The poison in their expressions lingered, but their words were gone.

But then-

Mathew's voice boomed in the silence. "Enough of this! This is what happens when a girl without manners is given a place in this house. You think silence makes you noble? It only shows arrogance!"

Olivia joined in, her voice sharp with bitterness. "You've poisoned this home from the day you stepped in. Our son was never like this-he's changed because of you! Madam Scott collapsing is proof enough!"

"Shameless girl. We gave you our name, our home-and this is how you repay us?" Mathew continued.

Olivia followed with tone dripped with disgust. "You slithered in under the guise of a contract and now act like you belong. How much more damage will you bring?"

Skylar didn't speak.

She turned to them-first Mathew, then Olivia. Her gaze was calm and cold, but her silence spoke a thousand words. Mathew fell quiet. Olivia looked away.

Her voice was quiet, but it cut deep.

"Truth stings only when you're guilty."

And just like that, the room went silent again. And in that silence, Skylar's poise spoke louder than any scream ever could.

She turned away from them-unshaken, unbroken. The door to Madam Scott's room remained firmly shut. Behind it, William and his grandmother were miles away from the chaos outside, caught in the crossfire of their own demons.

Inside the room William paced like a storm on legs. "Enough with your theatrics, Grandma! Faking sickness every time you want to pull the strings-do you ever stop? I did exactly what you asked. I forced her into this damn marriage. Call it a contract, a trap, whatever. And now look-look at the hell she's going through!"

Madam Scott clutched her shawl, glaring at him with steel in her eyes. "Don't you dare yell at me, you brainless donkey! This is your mess. I told you to keep it airtight. How the hell did everyone find out?"

"I don't know," William growled. "But it reeks of Evelyn. She's here with that creepy cousin of hers like vultures circling a fresh kill."

He turned, eyes flashing. "And why did you even entertain Zack's alliance with Eva? That man gives off sleaze with every breath."

"They proposed the match," Madam Scott said tersely. "Eva agreed, and I thought the Nelsons were a decent family. How was I supposed to know the Nelsons wear masks thicker than makeup?"

William sat down, running a hand through his hair. "Now what? Should I deny the contract? End it publicly?"

Madam Scott shook her head. "No. Won't change a thing. Skylar isn't the type to hide behind excuses. She'll own it, even if it breaks her. That girl's got more spine than half this family put together."

She paused, brows knitted. "Do you think Evelyn and Zack or Eva have proof?"

William narrowed his eyes. "No. I doubt it. If they did, they wouldn't be so desperate for a public scene."

"Then I'll deny it outright. No proof, no story." Madam Scott's voice turned colder. "But those two-they're slick. Snakes in silk. They'll keep striking from the shadows. And Skylar... she'll never play dirty to cover a lie."

"You're still the chairperson, the matriarch," William said, stepping closer. "Your word runs this house, the company, all of it. Say the word and I'll shut this circus down."

Madam Scott exhaled sharply. "I could. But then it's my word versus theirs. And if I silence them with a snap of my fingers, it'll look like favoritism. That'll only feed rebellion. Especially with people like Evelyn and Zack-they thrive on stirring unrest."

William nodded grimly. "Fine. Then I'll deal with them myself."

He rose to his feet, fury simmering beneath the surface, and marched back into the lion's den-the living room.

There she was-Skylar, standing in the eye of the storm. Surrounded by cold stares and louder whispers. Her back straight, her chin lifted-but her eyes carried the weight of a thousand battles.

He felt like the biggest coward alive.

Without a second thought, he walked to her and pulled her into his arms, holding her like a shield he should've always been.

"I'm sorry," he murmured against her hair. "Are you okay?"

She blinked up at him, surprised by the tenderness. No bitterness. No blame.

"I'm fine," she said quietly. "What about you? And grandma?"

Even now... she's worried about me, William thought with guilt. I caged her in a deal-and she's the one asking if I'm okay.

"She's fine," he answered, barely above a whisper.

But the air shifted.

Mathew stepped forward, thunder in his voice. "So it's true then? This sham of a marriage-was it just a damn deal? Are you out of your mind, William?"

Olivia's words came like venom. "You married her on paper? And let us all clap like fools for your love story?"

Every eye in the room snapped to him.

William didn't flinch. He looked at Mathew, then Olivia-his gaze like a blade dipped in ice.

And then, with quiet fury, he said:

"Don't you want to ask how's Grandma doing?"