Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 27: Vanesa’s Assault

Chapter 27: Vanessa’s Assault

-Two weeks later~

Eira sat down; her mind was far away from the lecture.

She didn’t look at William, who had quietly taken the seat beside her.

She kept her eyes ahead, not being able to focus; she was thinking about Callian only.

He still hadn’t woken up from the coma.

The professor’s voice faded into the background, blending with the students around her.

Every so often, she felt William glance in her direction, as if waiting for her to say something. But she stayed silent.

When the lecture finally ended, Eira gathered her books.

She noticed Vanesa across the room, smirking at her. Eira showed irritation but forced herself to ignore it, dismissing Vanesa’s presence as unimportant.

William stayed by her side.

He walked with her through the hall, keeping his face gentle and uncertain. After a long pause, he broke the silence.

"Eira, I’m glad you’re back. I heard you’ve... been through a lot. Is there... anything I can do to help?"

Eira kept her eyes forward; her face had a neutral expression. "No," she replied simply in a polite but detached tone.

"Are you sure?" William pressed gently, studying her face. "Sometimes it helps to... talk. Even if it’s just a little." His voice softened further. "I can listen."

She stopped walking and looked at him for a moment. "William... there’s nothing you can do."

"If there’s anything—anything at all—don’t hesitate, okay?"

A small, almost invisible sigh escaped her lips. "I appreciate it. But... I just need time."

William nodded, though he didn’t look entirely convinced. "Alright. But I’m here if you change your mind."

She gave him a faint nod, then turned and walked away, feeling his eyes on her back.

As she stepped outside the university building, a chill ran down her spine.

Something didn’t feel right.

She tightened her grip on her books and quickened her walk.

The street was quieter than usual.

Eira felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise, as if someone was watching her.

She glanced back but saw nothing out of the ordinary—just a few students and people passing by.

She shook her head, brushing off the worries, and kept walking, hoping to get home quickly.

But after a few more steps, she heard soft footsteps behind her.

They seemed to quicken as she did, matching her pace.

Eira’s heart thudded, her breath catching.

She didn’t dare look back again; she just moved faster, hoping whoever it was would leave her alone.

Suddenly, she turned a corner, and her path was blocked.

Vanesa stood there with her arms crossed, keeping a cold smirk on her face.

Three more girls were with her, one of whom Eira recognised from Callian’s house party, and two men with hard, rough looks—strangers who looked like they didn’t belong on a university campus.

Eira’s heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay calm.

She took a slow breath, holding her head high. "What do you want, Vanesa?"

Vanesa lifted her head; her smirk widened. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want." She gave a mocking little laugh. "Poor little Eira, wandering around alone. It’s almost like you wanted someone to catch up with you."

Eira narrowed her eyes. "Get out of my way."

Vanesa chuckled, looking at her friends. "Did you hear that? She thinks she can order me around."

She stepped closer. "I think it’s time you learned some respect, Eira."

One of the girls behind Vanesa sneered, muttering, "She looks so lost. It’s sad, really."

Vanesa shrugged with fake pity. "Maybe she just needs a little... help." She looked at the two men, nodding slightly.

The men stepped forward, and before Eira could react, one of them gave her a hard shove, forcing her to stumble backward.

She barely managed to keep her balance, clutching her books tightly to her chest.

"Hey!" Eira’s voice shook. "How dare you?!"

Vanesa smirked. "Oh, you think you’re still in control here? I don’t think so."

The second man stepped closer, snatching her books out of her hands and tossing them carelessly to the ground.

"You’re not going anywhere," he growled.

Eira’s pulse raced, but she tried to keep herself confident. "This... this is pathetic, Vanesa. What, you’re too weak to face me on your own?"

"You really don’t know when to keep quiet, do you?" She turned to her friends. "Show her what happens to people who don’t know their place."

At her command, one of the girls lunged forward, yanking at Eira’s bag, ripping it from her shoulder.

Another grabbed at her coat, pulling her roughly, while the men smirked as they pushed her down, forcing her to her knees.

She tried to resist, gripping the ground with her hands to steady herself, but the strength of their hands was too much.

Eira’s voice trembled as she looked up at Vanesa. "You think this makes you strong, Vanesa? Ganging up on me like this?"

Vanesa squatted down, looking Eira in the eyes; her face was just inches away. "Strength isn’t about fairness, Eira. It’s about power. And right now, I have all of it."

Eira clenched her fists, fighting back. "You’re nothing more than a coward, hiding behind others."

Vanesa raised an eyebrow, smirking even wider. "Oh, really? Then why are you on your knees?"

Eira felt the laughter of Vanesa’s friends around her; she could feel the dirt pressing into her knees as they held her down.

She tried to pull herself up, but the men shoved her back, pushing her shoulders down, forcing her to stay.

""Apologise, Eira," Vanesa said in a satisfied voice.

Eira glared at her. "I won’t apologise to someone like you."

"Oh, I think you will. Or things are going to get a lot worse for you."

The men’s grip tightened; they continued to press her down harder, pain seared through her arms.

Eira winced, biting her lip to hold back a cry.

She looked up at Vanesa, noticing that her vision became blurry from the water in her eyes, yet refusing to let it fall.

"I... I’m not afraid of you," Eira managed to speak through gritted teeth.

"That’s funny. Because you look scared to me. You’re going to apologise, Eira. Right here, right now, for what you did to my dad."

Eira’s heart pounded, her breath turned shaky. She held onto the last thread of her pride, fighting to stay silent.

But as the men’s grip turned harsher, pain crossed her shoulders, and she felt herself slipping.

Vanesa gave her friends a quick nod, and they moved in on Eira without any hesitation.

They grabbed at her, tearing her clothes with rough hands.

One of them ripped her top, the one her aunt had given her—the one she loved most.

"No-!" Eira gasped as the fabric was yanked and shredded, leaving her feeling exposed.

"So, will you apologise?"

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