Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 144: The Falling Snow

Chapter 144: The Falling Snow

The festive air in the store shifted immediately as shouts came from outside.

Guests froze mid-conversation, the noise faded into uneasy silence.

Eira’s eyes moved toward the glass doors, her chest tightened.

She could see people moving in the snow, shadowy.

Callian, standing by the champagne table, straightened immediately, his sharp eyes narrowed on the commotion outside.

He handed his glass to Elias without a word and strode toward the door.

"What’s going on?" Eira asked despite the nervous flutter in her chest.

Callian paused, looking over his shoulder at her. "Stay here."

The doors swung open with a sharp push, and the cold air rushed in as Callian stepped outside.

Konrad stood in the middle of the street, his breath steaming in the freezing air.

His gangsters flanked him, their postures looked rigid and threatening as they blocked the exits.

"Konrad," Callian called out in a calm, but firm voice. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Konrad turned to face him, his eyes looked wild and bloodshot.

His lips curled into a twisted grin. "Ah, Callian. The prince of perfection himself," he sneered. "Come to protect your precious little store?"

Callian’s jaw tightened. "This isn’t about the store, and you know it. What do you want?"

Konrad laughed bitterly, the sound sharp and unhinged.

"What do I want? I want what’s mine! I want back the life that she stole from me!" He pointed furiously toward the shop, his hand shaking.

"She?" Callian asked, his voice dropping an octave.

"Eira," Konrad growled.

"She took everything. My reputation. My business. My connections. And now she’s in there, basking in the glory like she didn’t destroy me."

Konrad suddenly lunged forward, grabbing one of the valet staff who had been lingering near the building.

The young man let out a startled cry as Konrad shoved him against the side of the SUV.

"Konrad, stop!" Callian shouted, stepping closer.

"Why?" Konrad snarled, his grip tightened on the valet’s collar.

"Because it’s wrong? Because you’re going to stop me?" He shoved the man away, sending him sprawling onto the icy ground.

Callian’s fists clenched at his sides. "This isn’t the way to fix anything. You’re only making it worse for yourself."

Konrad stepped closer. "You think you can stand there, calm and collected, and tell me what’s right and wrong? You don’t know what it’s like to lose everything. To have nothing!"

Callian didn’t flinch, coldly, he spoke. "I know exactly what it’s like. But I also know this isn’t how you get it back."

Inside, Eira had been watching the exchange through the glass, her nerves fraying with each second.

She saw Konrad’s rage, the way his gangsters were spreading out like a net, and knew this wouldn’t end without someone getting hurt.

She stepped toward the door.

"Eira, no!" Vanessa hissed, grabbing her arm.

"I can’t just stand here," Eira replied, shaking her off. She pushed the doors open and stepped into the cold.

Konrad’s head snapped toward her, his face darkened. "There she is," he said with hatred.

Eira crossed her arms, forcing herself to appear calm. "What do you want, Konrad?"

"I want you to pay," he spat, his body trembling with barely contained fury. "I want you to feel the way I felt when I lost everything."

"You didn’t lose everything," she said, her voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"You threw it all away. And now you’re blaming me because you can’t face the truth."

Konrad’s face twisted with rage. "You arrogant—" He lunged toward her, closing the distance in seconds.

"Eira!" Callian shouted, moving to intercept.

But Konrad was faster.

His hand shot out, grabbing Eira by the arm and yanking her toward him.

She stumbled, her breath hitched as his grip tightened painfully.

"You think you’re better than me?" Konrad hissed, his face was just inches from hers. "You think you can just walk away from everything you’ve done?"

"Let her go," Callian shouted as he stepped closer.

Konrad tightened his grip, his nails dug into Eira’s skin.

"Or what?" he snarled. "You’ll fight me? You’re not half the man you think you are, Callian."

Callian glanced at Eira, her face was so pale. Then, without warning, he moved.

In one move, Callian grabbed Konrad’s wrist and twisted, forcing him to release Eira.

She stumbled back as Callian shoved Konrad away.

Konrad staggered but recovered quickly, his fists clenched. "You think you’ve won?" he sneered. "You think this is over?"

The gangsters moved in, surrounding Callian and Eira. Their stances were aggressive, their intentions clear.

"Get inside," Callian murmured to Eira, commanding her.

"No," Eira whispered back. "I’m not leaving you."

"Eira," Callian said, his eyes never leaving Konrad. "Please."

She hesitated, her heart pounded, but the look in his eyes convinced her.

She backed toward the door, her breath was shallow as she stepped inside.

Konrad smirked. "You’re brave, I’ll give you that," he said to Callian. "But bravery doesn’t mean a damn thing when you’re outnumbered."

"I don’t need numbers," Callian replied calmly. "Just enough time to take you down."

Konrad’s smirk vanished, and the air grew thicker as the confrontation reached its boiling point.

As the tension stretched taut like a wire about to snap.

Suddenly, a shout came from the back of the crowd, "stop!"

It was Elias, pushing his way forward.

"Enough, Konrad!" Elias called, his voice went through the icy air. "This isn’t you. You’re better than this."

Konrad hesitated for a minute...nobody understood what he lost, nobody understood the situation he was in, and nobody wanted to help him.

He was alone, left in debts and only suicide could’ve prevented his sadness.

But he didn’t want to die...not when Eira is alive, smiling and thriving in life.

"Stay out of this, Elias," Konrad warned, though his voice lacked conviction.

Elias stepped forward, undeterred. "You’re throwing everything away for revenge. It’s not worth it!"

The words looked like a desperate plea wrapped in truth.

Konrad’s facial muscles twitched, and a small moment of vulnerability broke through his anger.

But it was fleeting.

"Don’t pretend you understand," Konrad snapped, though his voice was less certain.

"I do understand," Elias insisted. "We all lost something, but this isn’t the way to get it back."

Konrad’s fists clenched, his internal struggle looked visible.

The gangsters exchanged glances.

Callian seized the moment. "Listen to him, Konrad. You can walk away now. We can find another way."

Eira watched from the doorway, her heart pounding, knowing this was a critical moment.

She stepped forward again despite the fear. "Konrad, you have a choice. This can end differently."

Konrad’s eyes flicked between them, the fight draining from his eyes.

He took a shaky breath, lowering his hands. "I don’t want this," he admitted.

He didn’t want to kill anyone, but he also wasn’t ready to leave everything behind. He needed and wanted his life back.

The gangsters hesitated, unsure of their next move now that their leader had faltered.

Callian stepped closer, offering a hand of truce. "Let’s find a way to fix this, Konrad. Together."

The air cracked with sudden gunfire, sharp reports echoed off the buildings.

"Help!"

"Save us!"

People screamed, ducking for cover as the gangsters shot into the sky, chaos started around them.

Konrad lunged forward, grabbing Eira quickly again.

She gasped, struggling in his grip, fear seemed to flash across her face.

"Stop!" Konrad shouted, "Everyone stay back, or she pays the price."

The crowd froze, eyes looked so wide and mouth closed like it was glued.

Callian, fists clenched, took a cautious step forward.

"Let her go, Konrad," Callian warned.

Konrad tightened his hold on Eira. He had a wild look in his eyes. "Not until I get what I want. She owes me."

Eira winced, trying to keep her composure. "Konrad, you don’t have to do this."

Konrad’s grip released for a moment, but his jaw hardened. "You took everything from me, Eira. Everything!"

Callian glanced around, seeing the fear in the faces of the guests. "We can talk about this. Just let her go."

Eira met Konrad’s glare... "Hurting me won’t fix anything. You know that."

Konrad hesitated, his grip loosened ever so slightly. "I just want my life back."

Callian seized the moment. "We can help you, but not like this. Let her go, and we’ll figure it out."

The silence stretched, the weight of the decision pressed down on everyone.

"You people took everything away from me...everything..."

"Konrad..." Eire muttered his name, "did you forget what you did to me? The things that happened to you had nothing to do with me or Callian."

"You’re lying!"

"I’m not...every single torture you performed on me, you think I would’ve forgotten?"

"No," Konrad gritted his teeth." So that’s why you destroyed me."

"I didn’t. It was just a simple karma for what you did to me when I was a child..."

"You talk too much as for someone who claims she had nothing to do with my downfall..."

"Because I didn’t..."

"If you didn’t, then who else was behind it?"

"It was me," a calm voice spoke behind everyone else.

All eyes turned to look at him, "you?"

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om