Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 86: Crumble…

Chapter 86: Crumble

-A couple of days earlier-

Eira sat by the window of her penthouse, her fingers running over the torn edge of the envelope.

Inside were photographs of Beatrice and Steven, locked in a passionate embrace.

Her stomach churned. The accompanying letter was short, typed on plain paper.

"I told you she couldn’t be trusted. Think about what she’s hiding. – S."

"Steven..."

His name wasn’t signed, but the sharpness of the words reeked of his smugness.

He’d sent this to stir the pot, to make her doubt her next move.

Eira tossed the photos onto the table, leaning back in her chair.

She didn’t trust Steven, but he was right about one thing.

Beatrice was unraveling, behind her mother’s death with Henry, and someone needed to tip the scales.

She remembered Henry’s last statement of replacing her with everyone else, and then she wandered to Vanesa.

The girl had always been on the sidelines of her family’s mess—spoiled, naive, but vulnerable.

Recently, Eira had noticed cracks in Vanesa’s carefully curated image.

If anyone could be turned against Beatrice and Henry, it was her.

And one thing was clear to Eira... Liam was at the DNA center to find out if Vanesa was even Henry’s daughter.

"How interesting..." she smirked.

She picked up her phone and sent a quick text to Vanesa.

-We need to talk. I know about your mother.-

Vanesa sat on the terrace of her father’s estate, a cocktail glass in her hand.

The text from Eira had been unexpected, but she hadn’t deleted it.

She hadn’t replied, either.

Her mother’s betrayal was still extremely active in her mind, replaying every time she closed her eyes.

Beatrice and Mike.

Together. It made her stomach turn.

When Eira’s name lit up her screen again, Vanesa hesitated before answering. "What do you want?"

"To meet," Eira said without preamble.

"Why?" Vanesa asked in a sharp tone.

Eira’s voice was calm. "Because I think you’re finally ready to hear the truth about your mother."

There was a long silence. Then Vanesa sighed. "Fine. Where?"

They met in a quiet café on the edge of town, away from prying eyes.

Vanesa arrived first, sunglasses perched on her nose, her arms crossed.

She looked wary but curious.

Eira slid into the seat across from her, placing a folder on the table. "Thanks for coming."

"Get to the point," Vanesa replied with a tone full of attitude.

Eira opened the folder, revealing a single photograph—one of the many Steven had sent.

It was Beatrice and Steven, caught in the act.

Vanesa’s face paled. "Where did you get that?"

"From Steven," Eira replied honestly.

Vanesa blinked, stunned. "Why would he send this to you?"

"Because he knows I’m looking into your family," Eira said.

She softened her smirk when she leaned forward.

"Vanesa, I know you’ve been lied to your whole life. Your mother—she’s keeping secrets that could destroy everything."

"Ha ha!" Vanesa laughed bitterly. "You think I don’t know that? She’s been lying to me since I was a kid. But what’s your angle, Eira? Why do you care?"

"Because she ruined my life," Eira said quietly. Her hands tightened around her coffee cup. "And I think she’s about to ruin yours too, if she hasn’t already."

Vanesa’s shoulders stiffened.

She hated how much Eira’s words rang true. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to start paying attention," Eira said.

"Your mother is losing control. If you look closely, you’ll see it. Watch her, Vanesa. See for yourself what she’s capable of."

Vanesa hesitated, her guard faltered a little. "And if I do? What then?"

"Then we can take her down together."

Vanesa stared at her for a long moment before nodding. "I’ll think about it. But what makes you think you can trust me?"

"I don’t."

"Then why did you summon me here if you don’t trust me?"

"Because I need you to see how simply I’m going to destroy your family. And giving you a choice: join me or go down with them."

Vanesa flinched. She didn’t like the confidence in Eira’s tone.

"Like I said, I will think about it."

She took her bag and walked away. ’What if Father isn’t actually my biological father?’ She bit her lip. ’I need to find out.’

>___<

// Around the same time that Eira received the pictures. \\

Callian was sitting in a bar across from Mike, Henry’s assistant.

The man looked nervous, glancing around as if expecting someone to appear out of the shadows.

"You wanted to talk here," Callian prompted.

Mike nodded, his fingers twitching against his glass.

"I need out. Henry’s losing it, and I can’t—I can’t do this anymore. I’m tired."

Callian leaned back, studying him. "What changed?"

"He’s getting desperate," Mike sighed. "He knows someone’s digging into his finances. He’s tightening the leash on everyone. I don’t want to be there when it snaps."

Callian’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "Good. Then you’ll help us."

Mike’s brow furrowed. "Help you how?"

"We need information," Callian said simply.

"Names, dates, transactions. Whatever you can give us to prove what Henry’s been doing."

Mike hesitated, his hand shaking slightly. "You don’t understand. If Henry finds out..."

"He won’t," Callian interrupted.

His tone was icy, he sharpened. "You’re either with us, or you’re on your own when he falls. Your choice."

Mike swallowed hard, thinking.

Finally, he nodded. "Fine. I’ll do it."

Callian extended his hand. "Good decision."

Mike shook it, his grip weak. "You’d better protect me." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"We will," Callian promised.

>_____<

Back at the mansion, Vanesa sat in the living room, watching her mother.

Beatrice was pacing again, muttering under her breath as she sifted through documents.

Her hands were trembling, and her eyes moved toward the window every few minutes.

"Mother," Vanesa addressed.

Beatrice froze, her head snapping toward her daughter. "What is it?"

Vanesa studied her carefully. "You seem... different. Are you okay?"

Beatrice’s laugh was sharp, almost manic. "Of course, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?"

Vanesa’s stomach churned. Eira had been right. Something was wrong.

Her mother wasn’t just stressed—she was unraveling.

"No reason," Vanesa replied in a lighter tone.

She needed to decide whose side she was really on. And quickly.

Knock, knock.

"Yes?" Beatrice asked.

Mike walked in. "Mrs. Blackwood, may I have a word with Lady Vanesa?"

Vanesa rolled her eyes. ’So fake...’ she thought.

"Yes, of course." Beatrice looked at Vanesa while biting her nails. "Go, he wants to talk to you."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺