Marrying My Father's Enemy
Chapter 54: A Choice

Chapter 54: A Choice

Chapter 54: A Choice

Eira leaned back against the hospital pillow, her face was pale but calm.

She looked at Callian, her fingers still clutched his sleeve.

For a moment, she just watched him, as if gathering courage. Then she took a slow breath, almost whispering.

"I knew about the tumour," she said, looking down at her hands. "I’ve known for a while."

Callian stared at her, stunned. "You... you knew? And you didn’t say anything?"

She kept her head down, as if afraid to meet his eyes. "After my father... after everything, I didn’t see much reason to tell anyone. I thought... it’d be better to just let things happen."

A quiet fury rose in Callian’s chest. "Better? Better for who, Eira?"

She looked away, blinking rapidly.

Her hands trembled in her lap, fingers twisted together. "I didn’t want anyone to be angry with me. I didn’t want... to be a burden. That’s why I agreed to the contract, Callian. Just one year."

He could feel his fists clench, her words pressed against him like a wall.

"So, what? This marriage—" His voice faded, "You thought it was just some... some joke?"

A small tear slipped down her cheek.

She brushed it away quickly, but her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

"It wasn’t a joke. I... I didn’t think I’d be around long enough to make it matter."

Her voice cracked. "I tried to be the kind of person everyone needed. But I... I don’t feel any real joy, Callian. I just... I don’t feel it."

Callian’s jaw tightened, his whole body tense as he tried to hold back the storm building inside him.

"So you were planning to die?" His voice was low, his words sharpened. "Without telling anyone? Without giving me, or anyone else, a chance to help you?"

Her lips trembled, her shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of the whole world.

"I didn’t want anyone to worry. I thought maybe... maybe it would be easier for everyone if I just... faded away."

A knot of anger twisted in Callian’s stomach, boiling over into words. "You don’t get to make that choice for me, Eira. You think I would just stand by and let you go?" He paused, breathing heavily. "Get the surgery."

Eira blinked up at him, more tears spilling over her cheeks.

She tried to speak, but her voice was small and shaky. "Why should I, Callian? You can be free. You can be with... with that woman who was here earlier."

Callian’s face went red with frustration.

He shook his head. "Mita? Is that what this is about?"

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

"She was only here because my car broke down and I smashed my phone. I couldn’t call anyone else."

She didn’t respond. Instead, her face crumpled, and more tears began to fall.

She tried to hold them back, pressing her lips together, but the quiet sobs slipped through.

Her shoulders shook as she hid her face in her hands, trying to hold herself together.

Callian moved closer, reaching out slowly, gently wrapping his arms around her trembling frame.

Her tears soaked his shirt, but he didn’t care. He held her tighter, as if to keep her from slipping away entirely.

"You’re not alone, Eira," he murmured in a rough but soft voice. "You have people who care about you—who want you here. I want you here."

Eira took a shaky breath, looking up at him through her tears.

Her face was still pale, and her eyes red and swollen.

She let out a breath.

"I... I’ll think about it," she said, her voice hoarse but a little stronger than before.

But Callian wasn’t letting go.

He held her hand tightly, looking her straight in the eye. "Promise me, Eira. Promise me you’ll get the surgery."

She searched his face, her own expression vanished as she finally nodded, her grip on his shoulder tightened.

"Nothing good is here for me..."

Eira’s eyes drifted to the window.

She took a breath, steadying herself, then looked back at Callian.

"No," she whispered, barely shaking her head. "I won’t do it."

"What do you mean, you won’t?" His voice grew sharper.

She looked away, "I don’t want it, Callian. I don’t want to keep fighting like this."

He clenched his fists, his anger rolled over him in waves. "You can’t just... give up. You can’t decide this without even trying! Do you think this doesn’t matter to me?"

Eira didn’t answer, her face turned away.

The silence stretched between them, and something in Callian snapped.

He stood up suddenly, his face set, jaw clenched, fire burning in his brown eyes.

"Fine," he muttered in a cold voice. "If that’s what you want."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, the door swung shut behind him.

The click of the latch echoed through the room, and Eira closed her eyes, feeling the emptiness left behind.

A moment later, she heard the door creak again, soft footsteps entering the room.

She opened her eyes to see a woman standing there.

"Well," Mita said, "Look at you, lying here all sad and alone."

Eira stayed silent, looking down at her hands, trying to ignore Mita’s presence.

Mita’s smile widened as she stepped closer. "You really think Callian cares about you? He only stayed with you out of pity. You should’ve seen the look on his face when he stormed out. He’s had enough of this."

Eira’s fists tightened, her voice trembled. "You don’t know anything."

Mita laughed, folding her arms as she leaned closer. "I know plenty. You think he’s here out of love? He’s here because he feels guilty. You’re weak, Eira. He needs someone stronger. Someone like me."

"Then why are you here, Mita? If you’re so strong, why are you in my hospital room, trying so hard to make me feel worse?"

Mita’s smirk faltered, but only for a second. "Because you need to understand something, Eira. Callian deserves better than someone like you. Someone who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to take it. You’re just... in the way."

Eira lifted her chin, "Then why don’t you just leave?"

Mita let out a short, mocking laugh. "Because I’m not done here yet. You think you can hold onto him with this little act? Poor, fragile Eira, needing everyone’s pity?" She leaned closer, "You’re pathetic."

Eira’s eyes filled with tears, but she held her ground. "If Callian cared about you, he’d be with you, not here."

Mita’s smirk faded, and she took a step back, "You’ll regret this, Eira. You think he’s going to stick around when he finds out how weak you really are?"

Eira’s voice was soft but fierce. "We’ll see, won’t we?"

Mita stared at her for a moment, then gave a cold smile.

"Yes, we will." With a final sneer, she turned and left, leaving Eira alone once more.

"I don’t want to hurt him..."