Marrying My Father’s Enemy

Chapter 10: Power And Authority

Before the man could finish, Rylan appeared from the hallway.

He looked down at the group of women with disdain on his face.

"What's going on here?" Rylan's voice cut through the scene like a knife.

The women immediately stiffened, and their confident smirks faded as they turned to face him. 

The man who had just spoken to Eira shifted awkwardly, stepping back.

"Nothing, Rylan," one of the women said quickly in a sugary tone. "We were just talking with your new sister-in-law."

Rylan's gaze sharpened. "Talking? More like acting like the petty, lowlife bullies you are."

The women flinched at his words, their pale faces showing their discomfort. 

Rylan took a step closer. "You think this is how you should act in a place like this? Do you have any shame?"

One of the women tried to speak, "We didn't mean any—"

Rylan cut her off. "You didn't mean to what? Embarrass her? Hurt her? You think just because you're standing here with fake smiles and fancy dresses that you're better than her?" He looked down at them, shaking his head. "Pathetic."

The group of women fell silent, clearly unsure how to respond. Rylan turned his back on them, focusing his attention on Eira.

"You okay?" he asked gently in a softened voice. 

Eira nodded slowly, though her foot still throbbed and her heart was beating faster from the situation. "I'm fine. Just… need to get back."

"Let's go," Rylan said firmly. He cast one last scornful look at the group, making sure they felt his disapproval. 

Then, he gently took Eira's arm and led her away from the crowd.

As they made their way through the party, Rylan leaned closer and whispered, "Don't let them get to you. They thrive on jealousy and insecurity. You're better than that."

Eira nodded. 

She was grateful for his support. "Thanks, Rylan. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come."

Rylan smiled slightly. "You've got nothing to worry about. I've got your back."

As they approached the main hall, Callian appeared, his eyes immediately locking onto Eira. 

He frowned when he noticed her strained expression and quickened his pace.

"Eira?" he called out in a concerned voice.

The moment he reached them, Callian didn't hesitate. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "What happened?"

Eira buried her face in his chest, taking comfort in his warmth. "Just… some people causing trouble. It's fine now."

Rylan stepped in. "Some women thought they could intimidate her. I handled it."

Callian's jaw clenched, and he glanced over his shoulder toward the hallway, his eyes darkened with anger. "I'll deal with them later."

Eira placed a hand on his chest, stopping him. "It's okay, Callian. Rylan took care of it."

Callian relaxed slightly but kept his arms around her protectively. "I don't care what they say. You're with me. And no one—no one—treats you like that."

Eira smiled weakly. "I know. Thank you."

Rylan gave them both a nod. "I'll leave you two to it. Just let me know if anyone else needs putting in their place."

Callian smirked, his mood lightening slightly. "Thanks, little brother."

Rylan grinned before walking away, leaving Callian and Eira alone in the bustling room, but for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of them.

"Come on," Callian whispered, gently guiding her to a quieter corner. "Let's get some fresh air."

Callian led Eira out to the garden, where the night air was cool and quiet. 

The sounds of the party faded as they walked along the path, Callian's hand rested lightly on her back.

Once they reached a bench near a small fountain, they sat down, the soft trickle of water taking the silence away. 

Callian looked at her.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

Eira nodded, though she still felt unsettled. "Yeah, just… I had no idea this is what the rich life is like. All the whispers, the fake smiles, the judgment. It's exhausting."

Callian sighed, leaning back on the bench. "It's not all glamorous, that's for sure. My mom… well, you saw how she is. She cares too much about appearances, about what people think… reputation."

"I can tell," Eira murmured while she played with her fingers on the edge of her dress. "Sometimes I think… I regret not being able to just spend my life with my mom. We were supposed to be happy, you know? It should've been simple. No pressure, no expectations."

Callian's gaze softened as he watched her. "I know it's hard. But you're doing this for her, aren't you? To make things right?"

Eira nodded. "Yeah. I just wish she was still here to see it."

There was a brief silence, then Callian shifted slightly. "Speaking of making things right… what's the plan? For Henry, I mean. How exactly are you planning to take him down?"

Eira blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. "I think…I will use the public shaming first, sending him a message that I'm not backing down no matter what."

Callian tilted his head. "He's powerful, and people like him don't crumble easily."

Eira frowned, knowing he was right. "I thought I'd start by getting exposing him, then show the world his weak points. Maybe there's something—some secret he's hiding that could destroy him easily too?"

Callian nodded thoughtfully. "That's smart. But you'll need more than just secrets. We need to hit him where it hurts. His reputation, his business… something big."

Eira sighed. "He's been untouchable for so long."

Callian leaned forward now. "We'll figure it out. Together. We need to gather more information on him though, find people who know him well—people who might want to see him fall. And we need to be careful. He won't go down without a fight."

Eira looked at him. "You're really in this with me? Though, I already have someone, someone who's been helping me a lot in secret."

Callian met her eyes. "I told you from the beginning, Eira. I'm not letting you do this alone. If we're going to bring Henry down, we'll do it together. And I hate that man with all my heart too. I just fucking hate him."

"But can I ask why did you agree to this? I mean, I'm a complete stranger to you."

"Because you're beautiful…"

"…"

"I'm just kidding."

"You better not pull these tricks on me because it will not work," Eira laughed.

"I know… but for one year, you're legally my wife."

"Yes… we have so much to do in that one year…"

Callian smiled slightly, his hand brushed against hers. "And we will. One step at a time."

With Callian by her side, she felt stronger…so, this impulsive marriage wasn't a bad deal after all.

"I hate my father…"