"Do you think hiding the fact that she's dating someone is protecting her?" Regina asked the moment her eyes landed on Eryx as he stepped into her study.
Eryx didn't flinch. He calmly pulled out the chair in front of her desk and sat down.
"You knew too, Mom," he said. "You knew Naomi was seeing Ryan. You didn't stop her either, I'm sure you even knew where Ryan lived."
Regina's fingers paused on the crystal pen she had been holding, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"I was watching," she said at last, voice clipped. "And I trusted you were doing the same."
Eryx exhaled. "I only knew his name and a bit of his background, just enough to make sure he wasn't playing with her. But you? I'm sure you even knew his grandfather's name." His tone carried a thread of sarcasm. "I'm not here to play the blame game. She's old enough to decide what's best for her. And Mom, since Grandma won't be interfering anymore, maybe it's time you stopped playing the control game. You'll wear yourself out."
