Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 82: Eira’s Grief

Chapter 82: Eira’s Grief

The room felt impossibly small, as though the walls had crept closer the moment Eira’s phone slipped from her fingers. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

The words from the other end of the line hung in the air, echoing in her head like a relentless chant.

"Marion committed suicide."

"No," Eira whispered.

She was silently protesting against reality.

Callian moved toward her. "Eira, what’s wrong?"

Eira blinked rapidly, her lips trembling.

She opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out.

She clutched her stomach, as if the news had lodged itself there, hollowing her out.

"Eira," Callian said again, this time firmer, his hands gripping hers.

"She’s gone," Eira choked out, her voice starting to break. "Marion... she’s gone."

Callian’s eyes softened with understanding, but Eira shook her head, pulling her hands free.

She staggered toward the couch, sitting down as though her legs could no longer hold her up.

"She wouldn’t..." Eira murmured, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for something to make sense of it.

"She wouldn’t do that. Not Marion. Not her."

Callian sat beside her, hesitant. "I’m so sorry, Eira."

Eira’s breath came in shallow gasps. "Do you know what she meant to me? She was... she was the only one who cared. The only one who stayed."

Her voice cracked, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "She was like a mother to me. The mother I never had."

Callian reached for her, but she flinched, burying her face in her hands.

"She saved me, Callian," she whispered through her sobs. "When no one else did. When the world turned its back on me, she held me. She told me I mattered. And now—now they’re telling me she’s gone?"

Callian clenched his jaw, unsure of what to say, how to comfort her when the loss seemed so all-encompassing.

Eira suddenly sat up, her tears streaking her face. "I need to call Konrad. He’ll know. Maybe it’s not true. Maybe they’re wrong."

She scrambled for her phone, her hands shaking so much she could barely swipe the screen.

She found Konrad’s number and pressed it, clutching the phone to her ear like a lifeline.

The line rang once, twice, then clicked.

"What do you want?" Konrad’s voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.

Eira swallowed hard, forcing herself to speak. "Konrad, I just heard about Marion. Please... tell me it’s not true. Tell me it’s a mistake."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a bitter laugh. "It’s true," Konrad said flatly.

Eira’s heart sank, but she pressed on. "I need to come home. I need to see her—"

"No," Konrad interrupted harshly. "We don’t want you here."

"What?" Eira whispered, her voice trembling.

"You heard me," Konrad spat. "You left, Eira. You turned your back on all of us. Now you think you can just show up because Marion’s dead? Don’t bother."

Tears kept falling down Eira’s face as she clutched the phone tighter. "I didn’t leave you. I—"

"Get lost, Eira," Konrad said coldly before hanging up.

The phone slipped from her hand again, landing on the carpet with a soft thud.

"What happened?" Callian asked gently.

Eira shook her head, her shoulders shaking as she cried. "They don’t want me there. They... they told me to stay away."

Callian’s hands balled into fists, anger started flowing beneath his calm body.

But he said nothing, letting Eira crumble under her grief.

Eira leaned forward, her forehead pressed against her knees.

Her sobs were loud now, going through the penthouse like a haunting melody.

"She was the only one who loved me," she whispered. "She was my safe place. And now she’s gone."

Callian reached out, gently rubbing her back. "You’re not alone, Eira. I’m here."

Eira lifted her head, her tear-streaked face looked so red as the crimson dawn.

"You don’t understand. Marion was everything to me. She was my home. Without her, I don’t know who I am."

Callian swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "You’re Eira," he said softly. "You’re stronger than you think. And now you’re Reed."

Eira shook her head violently. "She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve to die like this, alone and broken."

Her voice rose. "I should’ve been there for her. I should’ve done more. But I was too busy with my stupid revenge."

Callian’s heart ached for her, but he knew there were no words that could fix the gaping wound in her heart.

Eira stood suddenly, pacing the room like a caged animal. "She must’ve been so scared, so hurt. What kind of person does that make me? That I wasn’t there when she needed me most?"

Callian stood, blocking her path. "Stop," he said firmly, gripping her shoulders. "This isn’t your fault, Eira. Marion wouldn’t want you to blame yourself."

Eira looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen. "How do you know? How do you know what she’d want?"

Callian hesitated but didn’t let go. "Because she loved you. And people who love us don’t want us to destroy ourselves for their sake."

Eira’s lip quivered, and she buried her face in his chest, her sobs muffled against him.

Callian wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as she cried.

Eira pulled back slightly. "I don’t know how to do this without her."

Callian cupped her face, his thumb gently wiping away a tear. "You don’t have to do it alone," he said. "We’ll figure it out together. I’m here. Please, don’t remove me from your life."

Eira closed her eyes, letting his words sink in.

But deep down, a part of her still felt hollow, as though a vital piece of her soul had been ripped away, leaving behind only an ache that no amount of comfort could erase.

"Callian?"

"Yes, darling?"

"I want to go to her funeral..." Eira muttered. "But they won’t let me."

"Worry about this less. I will make sure you get to say your goodbye to Marion."

"Thank you..." she buried her face in his chest.

"Anything to make you happy, Eira."

As he hugged her more tightly, they both had one thing on their mind: Marion’s death couldn’t be a suicide.

"Henry."

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on free(w)ebnovel(.)com