Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 76: Callian VS Henry

Chapter 76: Callian VS Henry fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Callian leaned back on the couch, the morning newspaper spread out on the coffee table.

His name was smeared across the front page in bold letters:

-CALLIAN REED ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING VANESA BLACKWOOD-

Underneath, a second headline read: -Mita Anand Claims Attempted Murder by Callian Reed.-

He let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he scanned the articles.

They painted him as a monster—violent, cruel, unhinged.

Vanesa claimed he’d thrown her against a wall, while Mita insisted he’d tried to push her off a balcony.

It was almost comical, how the two women he despised the most had somehow joined forces in dragging his name through the mud.

"Pathetic," he muttered, tossing the paper aside.

He picked up his car keys, pocketed them, and grabbed his coat.

The day had already started on a sour note, and he wasn’t in the mood to stay home.

// On the Road //

The city streets blurred past as Callian drove toward Eira’s university.

He hadn’t told her he was coming; he didn’t need to.

She was his wife, and he wanted to be there for her, especially after the hearing she’d been dreading.

Callian knew about it, but knowing Eira’s will to fight, he wanted to let her have it without his interference.

As he neared the university gates, his eyes caught sight of a black car parked on the side of the road.

Henry Blackwood’s sleek black sedan.

Callian frowned, his grip tightening on the wheel.

He assumed Henry was there to pick up Vanesa, but then he saw her leaving with a group of her friends, laughing loudly as they strolled down the sidewalk.

Henry didn’t move.

Callian pulled up behind the car, parked, and stepped out.

He walked to the driver’s side and tapped on the tinted window.

After a pause, the window rolled down, revealing Henry’s cold and icy expression.

"What a surprise," Henry said in a dry tone. "What brings you here, Callian?"

Callian smirked, opening the passenger door and sliding into the seat. "I could ask you the same thing. You’re not exactly the doting parent type, so what’s keeping you here?"

Henry’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Vanesa is a child who needs guidance. Unlike some people, I know how to step in when necessary."

Callian chuckled, leaning back in the seat. "Guidance? That’s rich, coming from you."

Henry ignored the jab and focused on the campus ahead. "Let’s not waste time. I wanted to talk to you."

"I’m flattered," Callian said sarcastically.

Henry turned to him. "I want you to convince Eira to divorce you."

Callian blinked, then laughed sharply. "What?"

Henry’s voice remained calm, but there was steel beneath it. "If she divorces you, I’ll give her everything. My name, my resources, my protection. She can take her rightful place as my daughter. I’ll make sure she has the life she deserves."

"Ha ha ha!" Callian’s laughter grew louder.

He clutched his chest as if the absurdity of Henry’s words had physically struck him. "You’re serious? What makes you think she’d even want that? After everything you’ve done to her?"

"I’m trying to make things right. I’ve made mistakes—many—but I want to fix them. I can give her more than you ever could."

Callian shook his head, leaning forward slightly.

"Let me get this straight. You’ve spent years ignoring her, tearing her down, dragging her name through the press, and now, suddenly, you’ve decided you want to play daddy?"

Henry’s jaw tightened. "I’m offering her a future. A real future."

Callian’s eyes narrowed. "You’re offering her nothing but chains. Do you honestly think she’ll forgive you? That she’ll forget what you did to her mother? To her?"

"If she stays with you, she’ll fall. You’ll drag her down with you, and she’ll lose everything."

Callian tilted his head, a faint smile formed on his lips.

"If she’s my downfall, then so be it. I’ll watch her claim everything she’s ever wanted. Especially your heart—the one thing you’ve never been able to give her."

"You’re making a mistake, Callian. You don’t understand the world she’s stepping into."

Callian shrugged. "Maybe not. But I’ll stand by her anyway. And I’ll make sure she knows she’s not alone. That’s more than you’ve ever done for her."

Henry clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles white. "You’ll regret this."

Callian leaned back, his smile widened. "Maybe. But I doubt it’ll be as much as you regret losing her."

He opened the car door and stepped out, pausing to look back at Henry. "Oh, and Henry? You don’t scare me. Keep that in mind."

Without waiting for a response, Callian shut the door and walked away, leaving Henry sitting in silence.

// Back on Campus //

Callian walked toward the university entrance.

He spotted Eira leaving one of the buildings, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.

"You’re here?" she said, surprised.

"Of course," Callian said with a grin. "Where else would I be?"

Eira smiled, but there was something strange in her tone. "Let’s go home."

"Gladly," he said, placing a hand on her back as they walked to the car.

As they drove away, Henry’s car was still parked in the distance like a dark silhouette against the bright campus.

Callian didn’t look back, but his words from the confrontation stayed in his mind.

"Eira?"

"Yes, Callian."

Callian paused his mind for a second, but then asked, "How would you feel ever letting Henry come into your life and love you?"

A small chuckle escaped Eira’s lips. "How would you feel if after twenty years of being an orphan, a random man comes to you and says: ’Call me papa’? Would you like that?"

"Well, no..."

"Then there’s your answer, darling. Why did you ask?"

"I was just curious. What if you forgive Henry?"

"It’s easy to forgive, but it would be difficult to forget everything. I want to heal, I want to move on, but seeing him..." she paused. "I don’t think I will be able to rest."

"I thought so..." Callian let out a long sigh. "Eira?"

"Yes?"

"Even if I’m going to fall down and lose all my influence, power, and money, I need you to understand that I will put the rightful Hax crown on your head."

"Callian...?"

"I love you, Eira."

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