Marrying My Father's Enemy
Chapter 56: The Message

Chapter 56: The Message

Chapter 56: The Message

Eira stood in the small hospital bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Her skin looked whiter, her cheeks hollow from exhaustion, and she barely recognised the tired eyes staring back at her.

She turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her face, hoping to wash away some of the pain pressing on her chest.

As she reached for a towel, her phone buzzed on the sink beside her.

She wiped her hands and glanced at the screen.

A message from an unknown number.

Frowning, she opened it. The words hit her like a punch.

"I’m breaking up with you because I want to marry Vanesa."

Eira froze, her breath caught in her throat, heart pounding in her ears.

She could barely process the words, her mind went numb.

Her hands began to shake as she scrolled down, and then—she saw them.

Pictures.

Photos of Callian, his hand around Vanesa, his head resting against hers.

In one, Vanesa was leaning close, lips almost brushing his cheek, her hand resting on his shoulder.

Eira’s stomach twisted as she scrolled through each one.

In every photo, he looked completely unaware, vulnerable, as Vanesa’s face filled the frame, her smile bold.

Her heart began to pound harder, each beat was more sharp and painful, like needles piercing her chest.

She tried to breathe, but her lungs felt tight, her throat closed as if someone had wrapped a hand around it, squeezing.

"No... this can’t..." She barely heard her own voice, a choked whisper in the empty bathroom.

Her mind started spinning with questions and disbelief.

Was this real? How could he be with her? How could he betray her like this—after everything?

All those nights he had promised to stay, all those times he had told her she mattered.

She felt her body go cold, like ice spreading through her veins, her fingers numb as she clutched the phone.

The pain hit her, raw and fierce, pulling her under like an ocean wave.

Her chest ached, twisting so tightly she could hardly breathe.

She felt as if someone had torn something from inside her, leaving her empty and hollow.

Every memory, every moment, now felt poisoned, tainted by these photos.

Her hands began to shake harder, her grip slipped, and before she knew it, the phone slipped from her fingers.

It fell to the tiled floor with a dull, heavy thud, the screen flickering as it landed face-up.

Eira stared down at it, her vision blurred with tears.

Her whole body felt numb, her legs unsteady, barely holding her up.

She gripped the edge of the sink, struggling to keep herself from falling as her mind spun from emotions... hurt, lies.

She felt as if she were breaking apart, piece by piece.

"No... Callian... no!"

She pressed her hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing, but the ache wouldn’t ease.

The pain was there, sharp and constant, filling every part of her, making it hard to think, to move.

She wanted to scream, to yell, to hit something, but instead, she just stood there, frozen, feeling her heart splinter inside her.

A tear slipped down her cheek, then another, until she couldn’t hold them back.

She leaned over the sink, her body started shaking as the sobs broke free, silent and raw.

The world around her seemed to fade, and all she could feel was the emptiness he’d left behind, the space where his promises had once been, now filled with nothing but pain.

"I-I loved you..."

~___~

Eira hadn’t slept.

She’d spent the night in a haze, lying awake, her mind kept replaying those pictures and the message over and over again.

Her eyes felt raw and heavy, but she hadn’t shed a tear since last night in the hospital bathroom.

By the time morning came, her heart felt like a hollow, aching space that nothing could fill.

She left her hospital room quietly, slipping past the nurses and doctors.

As she reached the reception desk, the receptionist gave her a worried look.

"Mrs. Reed," she said gently, "we really recommend booking your surgery as soon as possible. Waiting too long could be dangerous."

Eira managed a small smile, a small mask she’d forced herself to wear for years.

"I’ll book it tomorrow," she said in a flat voice. "I just need some time today."

The receptionist hesitated, eyes full of worry, but Eira didn’t wait for a response.

She turned and left.

When she reached their apartment, it felt like a stranger’s home.

She stepped inside, glancing around the empty rooms, the silence was louder than any sound.

He wasn’t there.

Her heart sank, twisting in a painful circles.

She’d hoped, even now, that he’d come back—that maybe this was all some mistake.

But the empty apartment held no answers, only more hurt.

She walked into their bedroom, her chest tightened as she looked around at all the things they’d shared.

With shaking hands, she opened the closet and began pulling her clothes out, roughly, driven by a need to tear herself away from this place.

She threw clothes onto the bed, her breaths were quick and uneven, trying to hold back the tears burning in her eyes.

"Eira," came a familiar voice from the doorway.

Eira turned, wiping at her face quickly.

Leina stood there, watching her with a cool expression, her arms folded across her chest.

Behind her, Mita stood with a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Eira clenched her jaw, holding her ground. "What are you doing here?"

Leina raised an eyebrow, her gaze went over the mess of clothes on the bed.

"I heard about... the recent events," she said slowly in a calm voice. "And I thought maybe it’s time to let go."

Eira stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

Leina gave a small, dismissive shrug. "You and Callian... it was never going to work. You weren’t... raised well enough to be with someone like him. Surely you know that by now."

Eira’s chest tightened, but she didn’t look away.

"What do you mean by ’raised well enough’?" she asked.

Leina sighed, looking almost bored.

"People like Callian have responsibilities. He deserves someone who understands his world. You—" she gestured vaguely at the room, "you’re not that person, Eira."

Eira’s hands clenched around the clothes she held. "And you think that person is Mita?"

Leina gave a small, satisfied smile. "Mita was promised to him long ago. Once you file for the divorce, they’ll be married. It’s what’s best for him."

Eira’s vision blurred, but she forced herself to meet Leina. "So... I was just some placeholder, something to fill a space."

Leina tilted her head. "Think of it however you want. But it’s time to accept that Callian will move on. He deserves someone of his own standing."

Mita gave a short laugh, stepping forward, "And you deserve to go back to... well, wherever you came from."

Eira felt the last bit of strength drain from her.

She looked down, feeling everything settle over her that was heavier than anything she’d felt before.

She nodded slowly, her heart shattered into a mess inside her chest.

"Fine," she whispered. "If this is what you both want... then I’ll give him what he needs."

"That’s the right choice, Eira. And plus, you’re dying. So it’s best to let my son go before you hurt him even more."

Leina turned, Mita followed, the two women left without another word.

The door clicked shut, "if that’s what you all want..."