Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 167: The End~

Chapter 168: The End~

-Present-

Eira rocked baby Daniel gently in her arms as she walked around the living room.

Across the room, Callian crouched on the floor, trying to convince three-year-old Nova to put on her socks.

Nova was adamant they were "too itchy," despite them being her favorite unicorn socks just yesterday.

"Nova, sweetheart, please. Daddy’s running out of magic tricks here," Callian said, rubbing his temple.

His dark hair was disheveled, and he looked like a man who hadn’t seen eight consecutive hours of sleep in weeks.

"No itchy!" Nova declared, stomping her tiny foot with the full conviction of a queen.

"She’s relentless," Callian muttered to Eira.

"You think?" Eira replied, bouncing Daniel gently.

"Try managing this one at three in the morning. He doesn’t understand the concept of ’Mommy needs rest.’"

"Neither does Nova," Callian replied with bitterness.

"I tried to tell her Daddy was tired, and you know what she said?"

"What?"

"’No, you’re not. You’re Daddy.’"

Eira laughed softly despite herself, her tiredness disappeared a little.

She handed Daniel off to Callian, who expertly adjusted the newborn in his arms.

"Your shift. I’m going to grab a quick snack before—"

*ding ring*

The sound of the doorbell interrupted her, followed by the unmistakable sound of Nova squealing,

"Visitors!"

Callian sighed dramatically. "Saved by the bell," he said, rising to answer the door while balancing Daniel.

He opened it to find Rylan and now his sister-in-law Sana on the porch.

Rylan grinned and spread his arms wide.

"Surprise! We’ve come to save the day."

"More like raid our fridge," Callian mumbled back, but he stepped aside to let them in.

Sana waddled in slowly, one hand resting protectively on her rounded belly.

She smiled warmly at Eira. "Pregnancy solidarity," she said, lowering herself carefully onto the couch.

"How are you holding up?"

"Depends on which hour you’re asking about," Eira replied with a small smile. "But look at you! How far along now?" ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"Seven months," Sana said, patting her belly. "We just found out it’s a girl."

"That’s wonderful!" Eira raised her voice.

"Yeah, Rylan’s already planning her career as the family soccer star," Sana teased.

"Or rock star. I’m flexible," Rylan interrupted, plopping onto the couch with zero finesse.

As Callian set Daniel in the bassinet, he and Rylan began their usual banter.

"So," Rylan began, "how’s fatherhood treating you? Feeling like a pro yet?"

Callian snorted. "If by ’pro,’ you mean constantly tired and second-guessing every decision, then yeah, I’m killing it."

Rylan leaned back and smirked. "See, this is why I waited. I’m learning from your mistakes."

"Learning?" Callian glared at him. "More like stealing all my best parenting hacks."

"That’s what younger brothers are for," Rylan said with a wink.

The brothers’ playful exchange quickly turned into a mock wrestling match on the floor, much to Nova’s delight.

She clapped her hands and shouted, "Go, Daddy!" while Eira and Sana shook their heads.

"Men," Sana muttered.

"Tell me about it," Eira replied.

A while later, they were interrupted by another knock at the door.

This time, it was Leonardo, carrying brightly wrapped packages.

"Grandad!" Nova shrieked, running to him.

"Hello, my little firecracker!" Leonardo said, scooping her up.

He was a tall man with graying hair and a kind smile, still full of energy despite his years.

"What’s all this?" Callian asked, eyeing the gifts.

"Just a little something for my grandkids before I head to Hawaii," Leonardo replied, setting Nova down and ruffling Callian’s hair.

"And nothing for your sons, I see," Rylan teased.

Leonardo smirked. "You two got your gifts the day you were born. I’m done spoiling you."

As the family gathered to open the presents, the doorbell rang once more.

This time, it was Elias...with his partner William in tow.

"Hello, strangers!" Elias called, stepping inside with his usual flair. "Hope you don’t mind us crashing the party."

"Elias!" Eira exclaimed, rushing over to hug him. "It’s been too long!"

"We brought reinforcements," William added, holding up a tray of pastries.

"You’re officially my favorite guest," Callian said, grabbing a croissant.

The living room soon became a lively chatter, laughter, and the occasional baby cry.

Elias entertained Nova with exaggerated stories, while William chatted with Leonardo about travel plans.

Sana and Eira shared tips on surviving sleepless nights, their bond as mothers grew deeper with every exchange.

As evening fell and the guests began to leave, Callian and Eira faced their final challenge of the day: bedtime.

"Okay, Nova," Callian said, scooping her up. "Time for stories and snuggles."

"No!" Nova protested, but her yawns showed something else.

Eira carried Daniel to the nursery, humming softly as she settled him in his crib.

Once both children were asleep, the house fell into blessed silence.

In their bedroom, Eira collapsed onto the bed with a sigh.

Callian joined her moments later, leaning back against the pillows.

"Another day survived," Eira laughed as her voice sounded with humor and exhaustion.

"Survived is the right word," Callian replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You’re amazing, you know that?"

Eira smiled. "So are you. Even if you and Rylan act like teenagers whenever you’re in the same room."

"Hey, that’s just brotherly love," Callian muttered with a grin.

They lay in comfortable silence for a moment before Eira spoke again. "Do you remember when we first met?"

"Of course I do," Callian said, softening his tone.

"I was looking for you," Eira said, turning to face him.

Callian chuckled. "No, you weren’t."

"Yes, I was!"

"No, you weren’t," he insisted. "Because I found you first. The moment I saw you at that train station near my building, I knew you’d come looking for me."

Eira’s eyes widened in surprise. "You saw me before I saw you?"

"Yes," Callian smiled. "And I knew right then that you’d change my life. I just didn’t know how much."

Eira reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. "You were everything I was looking for, even before I realized it."

"And you were everything I didn’t know I needed," Callian replied, pulling her close.

The house was quiet, the first time all day that peace seemed to settle over their chaotic little world.

But just as their eyes began to close, a piercing wail cut through the silence.

Callian groaned and buried his face in the pillow.

"Your turn," he mumbled.

Eira sighed, her body seemed too tired as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

"It’s always my turn," she said, but there was no real malice in her tone.

"You’re just better at it," Callian murmured, half-asleep already.

Eira padded softly to the nursery, Daniel’s cries grew louder as she approached.

She found him squirming in his crib, his tiny fists flailing as if protesting the injustice of waking up alone.

"Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart," Eira whispered, scooping him up into her arms.

She swayed gently in a low and soothing voice, but Daniel’s cries didn’t go away.

His face was red and scrunched with frustration.

"What is it, my love?" Eira asked softly, as her heart ached at his distress. "Are you hungry? Cold?"

She tried all the usual tricks—checking his diaper, offering a pacifier—but nothing worked.

Finally, her eyes landed on a small, brightly colored toy sitting on the dresser.

It was a soft, plush bear with a rattle inside, a gift from Henry when Daniel was born.

Eira hesitated for a moment.

She had been saving the toy to introduce it just yet.

It felt like such a small thing, but in her sleep-deprived state, it felt monumental.

She held the bear in her hand, turning it over, its little stitched smile stared back at her.

Finally, she brought the toy to Daniel, shaking it gently to create a soft jingling sound.

His cries slowed as his wide, curious eyes locked onto the bear.

"Look at this," Eira whispered.

She placed the bear in his tiny hands, and he clutched it instinctively, his cries quickly turned into soft hiccups.

As she gazed down at her baby, clutching his new favorite toy, she couldn’t understand one thing.

"Why this toy...?" Eira muttered to him as if he could understand her.

She kissed his forehead.

"I will protect you from any harm you face, my sweet boy," she whispered. "No matter what. I’ll always be here."

She stayed in the nursery for a while longer, rocking Daniel as he drifted back to sleep.

The little bear rested against his chest, rising and falling with his soft breaths.

When she finally returned to the bedroom, Callian opened one eye and mumbled, "Everything okay?"

Eira climbed into bed and nestled close to him. "Everything’s perfect."

Callian wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "You’re amazing, you know that?"

"You’ve said that already," Eira replied, smiling against his chest.

"And I’ll keep saying it," Callian murmured.

As the house finally settled into stillness once more, Eira closed her eyes, her heart was finally full, and her one wish to have a loving family was finally fulfilled.

The mess, the exhaustion, the moments of doubt—all of it was worth it for the love that surrounded her.

~The End~

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