Screw the rules - Eren Yeager

19

The silence felt deafening. Ellie, unaware of the tension in the air, simply looked curiously at the unknown man standing in the doorway. S/N, on the other hand, felt her chest tighten, her eyes fixed on Grisha as she tried to steady her rapid breathing.

Eren, however, didn’t hide his fury. His piercing gaze locked onto his father’s, and his hands trembled slightly as he held Ellie. He hadn’t expected to see him there. He definitely didn’t want to.

Grisha maintained a firm posture, a small smile on his face, as if his presence there were completely natural.

“You’ve grown, Eren.” His voice was calm, almost casual, which only intensified the tension in the room.

Eren’s jaw clenched.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Carla, who had been motionless until then, took a step forward, glancing between them.

“Grisha… how did you find out about the party?”

“I have my ways.” He shrugged before turning his attention to Ellie. His eyes scanned her with interest. “And this little girl? Seems like I missed more than I thought.”

S/N felt her chest tighten as she saw Grisha’s eyes land on Ellie. A protective instinct took over, and without hesitation, she extended her arms toward Eren.

“Give her to me.”

Eren, still staring at his father, pressed his lips together and handed Ellie to S/N without question. He did it quickly, as if his top priority was making sure his daughter was safe, away from Grisha’s watchful gaze.

As soon as Ellie settled into her mother’s arms, S/N held her tightly, wrapping her in a protective embrace. Ellie, unaware of the tense atmosphere, simply rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, her small fingers playing with the collar of S/N’s dress.

Grisha watched the scene, his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Protecting her from me?” He let out a low chuckle, crossing his arms.

“What do you want here, Grisha?” S/N’s voice came out firm, though inside her, adrenaline was running like fire.

Eren took a step forward, his posture rigid, as if ready to attack at any moment.

“You have no right to show up here.”

Carla looked between them, heart heavy. She didn’t know whether to intervene or let Eren handle it.

Grisha sighed and shook his head, his gaze drifting to the untouched cake on the table.

“I just wanted to see how my son was doing on his birthday. And apparently, my granddaughter’s as well.”

S/N felt Ellie shift slightly and tightened her arms around her, holding her even closer.

Eren laughed without humor.

“Now you care?”

The tension in the room was suffocating.

The air seemed charged with electricity, each second only adding to the pressure in that space. S/N’s heart pounded in her chest, her hold on Ellie tightening as the anger rose in her throat.

She glared at Grisha, her eyes sparking with resentment.

“You don’t care about Eren. You never cared about me. And even less about my daughter!” Her voice was sharp, loaded with years of repressed hurt.

Grisha kept a neutral expression, as if her words carried no weight.

“S/N, you’re overreacting…”