Marrying My Father's Enemy
Chapter 55: At The Bar

Chapter 55: At The Bar

Chapter 55: At the Bar

Callian sat alone at the bar, his fingers tapped against an empty glass.

The music was loud, pounding like a heartbeat, filling the barely lit room.

Around him, people laughed, shouted, clinked glasses, but it all felt so far away, like he was hearing it from a huge distance.

The waitress stopped by his table again, placing another drink in front of him.

"You sure you want another one?" she asked, giving him a look, eyebrows raised.

Callian barely glanced at her. "Just leave it," he muttered, picking up the glass and taking a long sip.

She sighed but left without another word, disappearing back into the crowd.

Callian downed the drink quickly, the burn of it barely touched the ache in his chest.

He wanted to forget everything—the hospital, Eira’s face, her words, the way she’d looked away like she’d already given up on him.

He clenched his jaw, the frustration tightened in his chest, and signaled the waitress for another.

"You’re really going at it, huh?" she said, setting another drink down.

He just nodded, not even looking up.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar face—Vanesa.

She was standing by the entrance, watching him, eyes narrowed.

Slowly, she walked over, weaving through the crowd until she was standing right beside him.

She placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Callian," she said softly, leaning close so he could hear her over the music. "Are you... okay?"

He didn’t look at her. He was focused on his glass, fingers tight around it. "What do you think?" he mumbled, in a slightly slurring voice.

Vanesa sighed, her hand still rested on his shoulder. "I think you shouldn’t be drinking like this. Not in this state."

He ignored her, taking another long drink. She watched him, already having thoughts with him tonight.

"Callian," she said firmly, "you can’t keep doing this to yourself. This isn’t helping."

He scoffed, setting the glass down with a little too much force. "What do you know, Vanesa? You don’t... you don’t understand."

"Then tell me. Help me understand. Because right now, you’re just sitting here, drowning yourself in drinks, and that’s not going to fix anything."

He glared at her, his eyes bleary. "You want to understand?" he said, raising his tone.

"Fine. I’m losing everything, Vanesa. Everything I thought I had, it’s... gone. She doesn’t even care. Doesn’t want to fight. So, why should I?"

Vanesa shook her head, a soft frown formed on her face. She placed her hand over his, steadying it as he tried to lift his glass again.

"Callian, stop." Her voice was gentler, almost pleading. "You don’t have to do this. Drinking yourself into oblivion isn’t going to change anything. Talk to me instead."

He looked at her through half-lidded eyes. "Talking doesn’t change anything, Vanesa. It won’t make her... it won’t make her care."

Vanesa squeezed his hand, refusing to let him slip away. "But it will help you. Callian, you have to stop shutting people out like this. I know you love Eira, but I exist too. Me and her are from the same blood."

Vanesa wanted to puke after saying this, but the act had to go on.

Callian was vulnerable now, so she knew he wouldn’t dare to hit her this time.

He tried to pull his hand free, but she held on. "Let go, Vanesa," he muttered. "I’m fine."

"No, you’re not." She glanced at the bartender, who had been watching with concern. "Hey, could you stop serving him? He’s had enough."

The bartender nodded, lifting the empty glass from the table. "Yeah, I’d say so."

He looked at Callian with a raised brow. "You got someone to take you home, man?"

Callian shook his head, struggling to focus. "I... I don’t need anyone. I don’t need... her."

Vanesa rolled her eyes. "Come on, Callian. This isn’t you. Stand up; let’s get you out of here."

He swayed in his seat. "Out? I’m fine right here..."

Then, without warning, he slumped forward, sliding off the barstool and collapsing onto the floor.

"Oh!" Vanesa gasped, quickly kneeling beside him.

"Oh my god, Callian! Callian, are you okay?" She shook his shoulder, her voice started shaking.

"Callian, please, wake up."

The bartender leaned over the bar. "You need a hand with him?"

Vanesa nodded, struggling to lift him on her own. "Yes, please. Help me get him to my car."

Together, she and the bartender managed to hoist him up, his arms draped over their shoulders.

"Eirhhga..." He mumbled something, his head dropped forward, too weak to stand on his own.

The bartender gave her a sympathetic look as they managed to push him toward the exit. "Rough night?"

Vanesa nodded, glancing at Callian’s face. "Yeah... it’s been a rough year..."

Vanesa guided Callian into the back seat of her car, carefully settling him down against the leather upholstery.

She instructed her driver, "Close the curtains, please."

The driver gave a silent nod, pressing a button that sent the curtains gliding shut, sealing them off from the world outside.

Once they were cloaked in privacy, Vanesa turned her attention back to Callian.

He was slumped against the seat, his eyes were closed, still dazed from the alcohol, barely aware of his surroundings.

A sly smile spread across her lips.

She lifted one of his hands, guiding it to rest against her shoulder, then trailed it down her arm, letting his fingertips graze her skin.

She laughed softly, amused by the way he sat there, completely unaware of her intentions.

"Look at you," she murmured, taking out her phone.

She leaned in close, positioning herself to appear as if they were sharing a private moment.

She clicked the camera button, capturing a series of photos—some with his hand on her shoulder, others with his arm around her waist, and one with her leaning her head on his shoulder, lips close to his cheek.

"Eighra..." Callian mumbled, his head rolled to one side, eyes barely open.

But he didn’t seem to register where he was or what was happening.

"What a loser you are now..."

Vanesa laughed quietly, tilted his face toward hers, snapping another photo of them together.

"Perfect," she whispered to herself, scrolling through the pictures with a satisfied grin.

The car rolled through the night, the faint sounds of the city outside muffled by the thick curtains and glass.

Vanesa leaned back, her arm draped casually over Callian’s shoulder as she glanced down at the photos she’d taken, her smile deepening as the car continued down the darkened streets.