Chapter 100: Secrets And Alliances
Chapter 100: Secrets and Alliances
Eira sat at the dining table.
She wrapped her hands around a steaming mug of coffee.
The light from the window cast a soft glow on her face, but her eyes were too far away.
Bits and pieces of the previous night floated back to her—dancing, the drinks, and... that stranger’s voice.
"William failed to watch after my little sister."
The words played on a loop in her mind, gnawing at her. She was curious.
"Morning," Callian’s voice broke her thoughts.
She glanced up to see him standing at the kitchen counter, fixing himself a cup of tea.
His hair was slightly tousled, and he had the faintest shadow of exhaustion under his eyes.
"Morning," she replied, though her voice lacked its usual energy.
Callian noticed imdiately.
He pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. "You’re quiet. What’s going on?"
Eira hesitated, her fingers tightened around her mug.
She debated whether to tell him about the stranger’s words.
Finally, she took a deep breath and said, "Last night... when that man stepped in to help , he said sothing strange."
Callian’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes deepened the view. "What did he say?"
"He ntioned William. He said sothing about him failing to watch after his ’little sister.’"
Callian’s jaw twitched, though his voice stayed calm. "And you didn’t think to tell
this last night?"
He started teasing, knowing way too well he already knew about it.
"I was drunk, Callian," Eira said defensively. "I barely rembered it until now."
Callian leaned back. "And you’re just bringing it up now because...?"
"Because it’s stuck in my head!" Eira snapped, slamming her mug on the table.
"Who was he? What did he an? And why did he act like he knew ?"
"I don’t know," Callian replied. "But I’m looking into it. You don’t need to worry."
Eira bristled. "How can I not worry? Soone shows up out of nowhere, acting like they know my life, and you expect
to just sit back and let you handle it?"
"Yes, that’s exactly what I expect," Callian said in a firm voice. "This isn’t sothing you need to get involved in. Let
protect you."
Eira stood abruptly, her chair scraped against the floor. "I don’t need you to shield
from everything, Callian. I can handle myself."
"You’ve got no idea what kind of danger you’re in, do you?"
"What’s that supposed to an?"
"It ans that this isn’t just about you, Eira," Callian said, his tone started rising. "If this man knows William—and knows you—it’s bigger than you think. And if you keep acting reckless, you’ll get yourself hurt."
"Reckless?" Eira repeated. "I’m reckless because I want answers about my own life? Because I refuse to be kept in the dark?"
Callian stood now, towering over the table. "I’m trying to keep you safe, Eira. But you keep pushing back. Why can’t you just trust ?"
"Maybe because you treat
like a child instead of your wife!"
The words hung in the air like a knife between them.
Callian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Fine," he said quietly. "Do whatever you want. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you."
Eira glared at him for a mont before grabbing her coat from the back of the chair. "I’m going out," she said in an icy tone.
"Where?"
"To clear my head."
Callian didn’t reply as she slamd the door behind her.
anwhile, at a Quiet Café
Vanesa sat across from Mita, her fingers drumd on the edge of her cup.
Her eyes were shadowed with sleeplessness, and her usual confidence seed shaken.
Mita, however, looked as composed as ever. Her lips curved into a knowing smile as she stirred her tea.
"You seem distracted," Mita said, breaking the silence.
Vanesa gave her a glare. "You don’t need to comnt on everything, Mita."
Mita chuckled softly. "Touchy, aren’t we? Is it Eira getting under your skin?"
Vanesa leaned forward. "She’s ruining everything. My father—our family—she’s tearing us apart."
Mita’s smile widened. "Then do sothing about it."
Vanesa frowned. "Like what?"
"Join ," Mita said smoothly. "You and I, together, can bring Eira down. She’s clever, I’ll give her that, but she’s still just one person. And she’s spread herself too thin."
Vanesa hesitated, her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her cup. "You’re asking
to betray my father."
"Betray?" Mita raised an eyebrow. "I’m asking you to save him. If Eira succeeds, he’ll lose everything. His reputation, his empire, his family. Do you want that?"
Vanesa’s jaw tightened. "Of course not."
"Then work with ," Mita pressed. "We can expose Eira for what she really is—a manipulative little liar who doesn’t belong in your family."
Vanesa looked away, thinking. "What’s in it for you?"
Mita laughed softly, sitting back in her chair. "Revenge. That’s all I want. Eira and Callian have made my life hell, and I won’t rest until I return the favor."
Vanesa studied her for a long mont. "If we do this, how do I know you won’t turn on ?"
Mita’s expression grew serious. "Because I need you, Vanesa. And because I know we want the sa thing: to destroy Eira."
Vanesa finally nodded, though her expression remained uncertain. "Fine. I’m in."
Mita’s smile returned, colder this ti. "Good. Then let’s get to work."
The two won leaned in closer, their voices lowered as they began to plan.
"I need you to distract Callian in the next university event."
"Mita, how the hell am I supposed to do it? Callian hates ."
"Well, think of sothing. While you distract him, I will get under Eira’s skin and will expose her. I’m going to record our whole conversation."
"Record?"
"Yes. Like you did one ti."
Vanesa rolled her eyes.
Across the café, a person watched them from behind a newspaper.
"Vanesa and Mita," the man muttered under his breath, scribbling sothing in a notebook. "This just got interesting."
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