My Tyrant Husband Blackmailed Me To Stay

Elaina Reyes thought little of her brief conversation with Linda Wheeler at the stables and never mentioned it to her mother. She had simply helped a guest find her way across the estate. To Elaina, that was the end of it.

For the Wheeler family, however, it was only the beginning.

Over the next ten days, Linda quietly asked her attorneys and family office to learn more about the Reyes family. She did not order anything invasive or illegal. She reviewed public business records, charitable foundations, school references, and the family’s reputation among mutual acquaintances. The Wheelers were one of Europe’s most influential financial families, and Linda believed that any future connection between the families required careful judgment.

The reports were consistently favorable.

The Reyes family had built its fortune through shipping, hospitality, and commercial real estate. Elaina’s father, Adrian Reyes, was respected in Seattle’s business community, while her mother, Natalia Reyes, had left a successful career in entertainment to raise their children. Their eldest son, Julian, was already showing talent in business. Elaina and her twin brother, Reece, were known as bright, well-mannered students with no public scandals attached to their names.

Elaina’s school described her as disciplined, thoughtful, and unusually accomplished in music. Her teachers praised her academic performance, while family friends spoke warmly of her patience with her grandfather, who had Alzheimer’s disease.

Linda was satisfied.

Ten days later, she returned to the Reyes estate with Grant and several members of the Wheeler family office. There was no absurd convoy and no public proposal. Six cars arrived carrying flowers, wine, books, and several carefully selected family gifts.

The visit was formal but private.

After lunch, Linda explained her intentions to Adrian and Natalia.

“I am not asking for a wedding,” she said. “Elaina is fifteen. She should finish school, travel, and decide what kind of life she wants. I am suggesting that our families allow Grant and Elaina to remain acquainted. When she is older, if they both wish it, we can discuss a formal engagement.”

Adrian looked at his daughter before answering.

“Elaina’s choice comes first.”

“Of course,” Linda said. “Anything else would be unacceptable.”

Later that evening, Adrian called Elaina into the library. Natalia sat beside him, smiling but trying not to appear too eager.

“You met Grant twice,” Adrian said. “What did you think of him?”

Elaina folded her hands in her lap. “He seemed polite.”

Reece, who had followed her into the room without being invited, snorted.

“Polite? He looked at everyone as if he owned the house.”

Natalia gave him a warning look. “No one asked you.”

Adrian turned back to Elaina. “Mrs. Wheeler suggested that the two families stay in contact. Nothing legally binding. No promise you cannot change your mind about. When you are eighteen, you may decide whether you want a formal engagement.”

Elaina hesitated. The idea felt distant and strangely unreal.

“I’m still young,” she admitted.

“That is why no decision is being forced on you,” Adrian said. “You may meet him in family settings. If you dislike him, we end the discussion. If you grow to care for him, we revisit it later.”

Elaina nodded slowly. “Alright.”

Three days later, the families exchanged letters confirming a nonbinding understanding. Richard Wheeler joined by video from Geneva and made it clear that Elaina’s education would not be interrupted.

The arrangement immediately became the favorite topic of conversation in the Reyes household.

Natalia was delighted. Adrian pretended to be calm while looking unmistakably proud. Reece was openly suspicious.

When Grant invited Elaina on a daytime hike with two security officers and a family chaperone following at a distance, Reece insisted on going.

“No,” Natalia said.

“She’s fifteen.”

“And the outing is supervised.”

“I can supervise better.”

“You can annoy everyone better,” Natalia corrected.

The first outing ended with Elaina catching her shoe on a root and scraping both knees.

The second, held at a private skating rink with several relatives present, ended when the fastening on one of her rented skates came loose. She fell hard enough to bruise her forehead.

After two perfectly respectable family outings, the elegant Miss Reyes returned home twice looking as though she had survived a minor disaster.

Reece was no longer merely suspicious.

He was furious.