Matilda did not have much of an expectation for anyone other than taking care of her daughter and treating her well.
And just a few days after his visit, a delegate was sent to the Santiagos' family to sound a warning.
The message had been clear, direct and unyielding, it was neither veiled nor diplomatic. "Your daughter must stay away from our son, or be ready to dance to the tune of our music."
Though the Santiagos were baffled by the hostility, it didn't take long before the Anderson family began to exert pressure.
A quiet suppression followed in their economic, political, and social relationships. The Santiagos fought back with resilience, but it quickly escalated into a lopsided battle for survival.
To reduce the damage and preserve what little dignity the family had left, Matilda responded with a decisive message: her daughter had no relationship with the Anderson heir, and in fact, a marriage had already been arranged for her.
