The Blackwood Curse

Chapter 16

Sarah's POV

The storm outside seemed to mirror my inner turmoil, the wind howling as rain battered against the mansion's windows. The Blackwood family's secrets were suffocating me, their weight growing heavier with each passing day. Eren's cold distance, Axel's unsettling attention, and Eleanor and Victor's quiet but sharp dominance—it was all too much.

But I couldn't crumble. Not yet.

I sat at the vanity in my room, brushing my hair as I tried to calm my thoughts. The reflection in the mirror was familiar yet foreign, my face pale and drawn, my eyes shadowed with fatigue.

There was a knock at the door, startling me. I turned toward it, my heart thudding in my chest.

"Come in," I called, my voice steadier than I felt.

The door opened, and Eren stepped inside. His tie was loosened, his hair slightly mussed as if he'd been running his hands through it. He looked as exhausted as I felt, but his expression was unreadable.

"Can we talk?" he asked, closing the door behind him.

I set the brush down and turned to face him. "What about?"

Eren crossed the room, leaning against the edge of the bed. "I know things have been... tense lately. My parents, Axel... they can be overwhelming."

"That's an understatement," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I should have prepared you better. I didn't realize how difficult this transition would be for you."

I stood, crossing my arms as I faced him. "It's not just them, Eren. It's you too. You've been distant, avoiding me, keeping me in the dark."

His jaw tightened, and he looked away. "I'm trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" I demanded, stepping closer. "Your family? Their secrets? Or is it something else, something you're not telling me?"

Eren's silence was answer enough.

"You can't keep shutting me out," I said, my voice softening. "If this marriage is going to work, I need to know the truth."

He finally met my gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and determination. "You don't understand, Sarah. There are things about this family—about me—that are better left buried."

I shook my head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "You can't make that decision for me, Eren. I deserve to know what I'm dealing with."

Eren opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by another knock at the door.

---

Axel's POV

The door opened, and I stepped inside, my gaze flicking between Eren and Sarah. The tension in the room was thick, and I couldn't help the smirk that tugged at my lips.

"Am I interrupting?" I asked, my tone deceptively casual.

Eren's expression darkened, his shoulders tensing. "What do you want, Axel?"

"I thought I'd check on Sarah," I said, ignoring his hostility. "She seemed upset earlier."

"I'm fine," Sarah said quickly, her voice tight.

"Are you?" I asked, my gaze locking onto hers. "You've been under a lot of pressure lately. It's only natural to feel overwhelmed."

Eren stepped forward, placing himself between us. "She said she's fine."

I raised an eyebrow, my smirk widening. "Relax, brother. I'm just trying to be supportive."

"Supportive isn't exactly your style," Eren shot back.

The corner of my mouth twitched, but I held my ground. "You might be surprised."

Sarah shifted uncomfortably, her gaze darting between us. "Maybe we should all just... take a step back. This isn't helping."

Eren turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "You're right. I'll give you some space."

He shot me a warning look before leaving the room, the door closing with a resounding click behind him.

Good. He knew staying longer will make him lose control.

I turned back to Sarah, my smirk fading into something more serious. "You don't have to deal with this alone, you know."

She looked at me warily, her arms crossed. "What are you talking about?"

"The pressure, the expectations, the secrets," I said, stepping closer. "Eren might not tell you the truth, but I will. Soon."

Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across her face. "Why would you do that?"

"Because you deserve to know," I said simply. "And because I care about you."

Her breath hitched, and I saw the confusion in her eyes. For a moment, it seemed like she might respond, but then she shook her head, stepping back.

"I don't know what you're trying to do, Axel, but I'm not falling for it," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

I smiled faintly, nodding. "Fair enough. But the offer stands."

I turned and left the room, satisfaction curling in my chest. The cracks were widening, and it was only a matter of time before everything fell apart.

---

Eleanor's POV

I watched Axel leave Sarah's room from the shadows of the hallway, my lips curling into a satisfied smile. The pieces were moving, the game unfolding exactly as I had planned.

Sarah was proving to be more resilient than I'd anticipated, but even she had her limits. It was only a matter of time before the pressure broke her.

And when it did, the Blackwood family would emerge stronger than ever, and sarah....poor Sarah....

---

Sarah's POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, my thoughts racing. Axel's words lingered in my mind, their implications unsettling.

What did he mean about the truth? What secrets was he hiding? And why did he care so much about me?

Eren's evasiveness, Axel's cryptic comments, Eleanor and Victor's sweet but veiled threats—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn't quite put together.

But one thing was clear: if I wanted to survive in this family, I needed answers.

And I was determined to find them now...Alone.

Because No one in this place was going to give me answers without being vague, cyptic or just simply annoying like Axel .