Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 141: A Father’s Regret

Chapter 141: A Father’s Regret

Eira spent the day in a strange blend of warmth and unease.

Callian had been attentive, kind in ways that felt almost foreign.

They had spent the morning talking softly, opening gifts, and sharing a quiet meal.

His gestures were thoughtful, watching her as if memorizing every small detail.

By the time evening fell, Eira was back outside her apartment, her arms were filled with the weight of Callian’s gifts in her hands.

His car idled at the curb.

"I’ll call you tomorrow," Callian said, leaning out of the car window.

"Sure," Eira replied, unsure of what else to say.

"Take care of yourself," he added softly, his brown eyes lingering on her.

She nodded, and he drove off into the snowy night, his taillights disappeared down the street.

Eira turned toward her building, her breath curled in the cold air.

As she reached the door, something caught her eye—a sealed envelope tucked neatly into her mailbox.

She frowned, balancing the shopping bags against her hip as she reached for it.

The envelope was heavy, the paper felt thick and expensive.

Her name was written in bold, precise letters: Eira Hax Blackwood.

"Blackwood? What the heck?"

Curiosity gnawed at her as she climbed the stairs to her apartment.

Once inside, she set the bags on the couch, her hands shaking slightly from the cold.

She took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the room settle her nerves.

She drifted back to the envelope. She slid her finger under the flap, the seal cracked softly as it opened.

"What the hell is this?" She muttered again.

Inside was a folded sheet of paper, the handwriting unmistakably Henry’s—neat but slightly uneven, as though he’d written it with a heavy hand.

Eira hesitated for a moment before sitting down and unfolding the letter.

-Eira,

I don’t know how to begin this, or if you’ll even read it. But I need to say these things, whether you forgive me or not.

I’ve spent the last few days in silence, thinking about everything I’ve done. Everything I’ve destroyed. And the one thing I can’t escape is you.

I failed you, Eira.

From the moment you were born, I failed you. I wasn’t the father you needed or deserved. I let Beatrice and my own ambitions blind me. I let my selfishness ruin everything.

I pushed your mother into that cell. I let Beatrice’s lies convince me she was guilty, that she was the reason my life felt empty. I chose my pride over the truth, and for that, I am sorry. Helen didn’t deserve what happened to her, and neither did you.

You grew up without a father because of me. You suffered alone because I was too cowardly to face my mistakes. I thought money and power could fill the void, but all it did was build a wall between us. I see that now.

I let Beatrice and Steven into my life, into your life. I let them destroy the one person who loved you unconditionally. They killed her. Helen’s death is on them, but it’s also on me because I did nothing to stop it.

And for that, I don’t expect your forgiveness.-

Eira’s hands trembled as she held the letter. Her chest tightened, her breath felt shallow as she read on.

-I know you think of me as a monster. You have every reason to. I didn’t just fail you as a father; I failed everyone who mattered.

Marion.

I don’t know how to tell you how sorry I am. I had nothing to do with her death, Eira. I swear it on my life. I never wanted harm to come to her. If I had known what was happening, I would have stopped it. But I didn’t, and she’s gone.

Her blood is another weight I carry, one I can never put down.

Liam.

God, Liam. He was one of the only guy I trusted, one of the few who stood by me even when I didn’t deserve it. His death wasn’t an accident. Beatrice and Steven took him from me too. I failed him, just like I failed you.

But I won’t let his death go unanswered. I swear to you, Eira, I will seek justice for Liam. I will make sure Beatrice and Steven pay for every life they’ve stolen, every lie they’ve told.

Eira’s breath hitched, her eyes burning. She blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back as she continued reading.

I know this letter won’t fix anything. It can’t bring back the people we’ve lost, and it can’t erase the pain I’ve caused you. But I needed to tell you the truth, Eira.

You were never an afterthought to me. You were my daughter. You still are.

I know I have no right to ask for anything from you, but if there’s even the smallest part of you that can believe me, please know that I regret everything. I regret every moment I wasn’t there for you, every time I let Beatrice’s poison hurt you.

You are stronger than I ever was. Stronger than I will ever be.

I’m proud of you, Eira.

I don’t deserve to say it, but I love you. I always have.

If there’s a chance to make things right, I’ll take it.

Your father,

Henry.-

A Heavy Silence followed like a haunted ghost.

The letter fell into Eira’s lap as she stared blankly ahead.

The words went up in the air around her, pressing down on her chest like a mountain she couldn’t shake.

Her emotions started swinging together—anger, sadness, disbelief.

"What is the point of this letter, to break me?" She asked herself.

She clenched her fists, her nails started scratching the palms as her breathing grew uneven.

"How dare you," she whispered, trembling. "How dare you say these things now?"

The apartment felt suffocating, the atmosphere was like a heavy fog that turned into dust.

She stood abruptly, pacing the room as the tears finally fell, hot and uncontrollable...

Her mother, Marion, Liam—each name was hurting in her mind, each loss felt more cutting now that Henry had dredged it all back up.

Eira gripped the back of the couch, her shoulders started shaking.

"I don’t know if I can forgive you," she said aloud, her voice began to break. "I don’t even know if I want to."

But even as she said the words, part of her wondered if she could.

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