Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 104: The Copy And The Secrets It Held

Chapter 104: The Copy and the Secrets It Held

Callian sat at his desk, staring at the package that had just arrived.

His name was scrawled neatly across the top, but there was no mistaking the sender.

He knew Mike’s methods well.

Precisely, he ripped it open, revealing a neatly bound copy of Eira’s diary.

His fingers flipped through the pages, his eyes started reading each word.

But Callian didn’t like that the diary’s pages were too fresh.

"This is a copy," Callian muttered, his teeth gritted as he grabbed his phone.

Mike picked up on the second ring, his tone unbothered. "Mr. Reed. Received your package, I assume?"

"Don’t play games with me," Callian growled. "You sent me a copy. Where is the original?"

Mike’s voice remained steady, even smug. "I thought you’d appreciate the precaution. The original is safe. For now."

Callian’s grip on the phone tightened. "I asked for the original, not a copy. You think I couldn’t print it myself?"

"You could," Mike replied, "but that would attract attention, and I doubt you’d want Henry sniffing around. I had to protect my position. So, don’t drop the price you were willing to pay."

Callian’s breath was aggressive as he leaned back in his chair. "I need the original, and don’t act like a fox... or I will start hunting you."

"But let’s not forget, I’ve delivered what you need. Enjoy the read."

The line went dead before Callian could respond.

He slammed the phone onto his desk.

He glared at the copy in front of him, hesitating for only a moment before flipping open the first page.

"Let me get comfortable..."

He went to sit on the couch in the penthouse, holding the printed copy Mike had given him.

He hadn’t told Eira yet.

He wanted to understand the depths of her pain before deciding what to share.

He began to read, and the words pulled him into a world he hadn’t known—Eira’s world.

Today, nobody wanted to sit next to me in class. They all said I stink. One girl, Maria, said I smelled like garbage. Everyone laughed. I tried to tell her it wasn’t my fault, but she wouldn’t listen.

"What..."

Teacher asked why my clothes were dirty. I didn’t know what to say. Marion didn’t have money to use the washing machines, and Konrad threw my clothes outside when we were going to wash them. He said I should be used to dirt because that’s all I am. I cried in the bathroom for an hour.

Callian’s teeth gritted together as he read.

The next entry was even worse.

Today, the kids threw paper balls at me in class. They wrote "Stinky Eira" on them and hit me when the teacher wasn’t looking. I tried to pretend it didn’t bother me, but it did.

"How cruel..."

There’s a boy in my class I like—Alex. I thought maybe he’d stand up for me. But when Maria dared him to say something, he laughed and called me disgusting. He joined them in throwing paper at me. Tonight, I promised myself I wouldn’t like anyone ever again.

Callian leaned back, his hand ran over his face as he processed the words.

Eira’s Past

Eira sat alone at her desk, her head down as the sound of giggles filled the classroom.

"Stinky Eira," Maria whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The other students laughed. Paper balls began to land on Eira’s desk, one by one.

"Maybe she doesn’t bathe," another boy said, laughing. "I bet she likes being dirty."

Eira kept her head on her notebook, her cheeks burned with shame.

"Hey, Alex," Maria called out to the boy sitting across the room. "Do you think Stinky Eira even owns soap?"

The class filled in laughter again, and Alex hesitated.

He glanced at Eira, who looked up at him with a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he’d defend her.

But instead, Alex smirked. "Probably not. She probably thinks dirt is perfume."

Eira’s heart sank as Alex crumpled a piece of paper and threw it at her. It hit her on the shoulder, and the rest of the class followed his lead.

Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She picked up her bag and walked out of the classroom, the sound of their laughter followed her down the hall.

She hid in the bathroom, leaning against the wall as silent tears streamed down her face.

"I hate them," she whispered to herself. "I hate them all."

The teacher opened the door, "Eira, don’t forget to come after the class ends."

Callian closed the diary, his chest felt like it was being stabbed by a serial killer.

He couldn’t read anymore, not right now.

He picked up his phone and dialed Mike again.

"Callian," Mike answered smoothly. "Thoughts on the diary?"

"I need the original," Callian said firmly.

"That wasn’t part of the deal."

"It is now. Name your price," Callian demanded.

Mike was silent for a moment, then said, "Double what we agreed on before."

"Done. But I want it by tomorrow," Callian replied in a cold voice.

Mike chuckled. "You’re quite the negotiator, Mr. Reed. I’ll make it happen."

As the call ended, Callian stared at the copy in his hands, not being able to believe that this was Eira’s past.

He wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Eira ever again—not Henry, not Konrad, not anyone from her past.

Whatever it took, he would protect her. And he would make every single one of them pay.

But first, he needed the original copy, so no one else could see her pain the way he did.

It made sense in Callian’s eyes now why Henry was so sympathetic towards Eira all of a sudden.

Anyone who had their hands on her backstory would feel the need to make everything right for her.

"My poor angel..."

He got up from the couch and stared through the window.

Then his phone rang.

"Hello?"

A deep male voice started talking behind the screen, "I’ve heard you were looking for me. May I know the reasons, brother-in-law?"

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