Chapter 24: No Time For Happiness
Eira stepped out of the hall; her shoulders felt lighter after the encounter with Henry.
Before she could take a breath, Callian was there, immediately wrapping his arms around her tightly.
He whispered, "I heard everything. No one deserves a parent like that."
Eira didn't speak, but her hands gripped his jacket, grounding herself.
After a minute, she pulled back, and Callian guided her toward the waiting car. She glanced up.
"I need to meet Liam," she said, "and I want you there with me."
Callian raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright," he murmured, opening the door for her.
The ride to Liam's was short, tense, neither of them saying much.
When they finally arrived, Liam was already waiting, leaning casually against his car, hands in his pockets, looking like a mafia boss. He had a smirk on his face, practically glowing under the streetlights.
"Well, well," he looked Eira up and down. "I didn't think you'd actually come."
"Cut the act, Liam. You said you wanted to talk, so I'm giving you my time now."
Liam laughed. "Straight to the point—how very you." His eyes went over to Callian, who stood protectively at Eira's side. "You brought the boyfriend? This should be fun."
"Watch it," Callian said.
Liam raised his hands in surrender. "Easy, Prince Charming. I'm here to help, after all."
Eira crossed her arms. "Help? What's your price, Liam?"
His smirk widened. "Oh, I thought you'd never ask. Let's say… a slice of that fortune you're about to unearth. I'll even be generous; ten percent should do."
Eira's face didn't change. "Ten percent of what's already mine? That's cute, Liam."
"Is it? Because I know a few things about you, Eira. Things that might—oh, how do I put it—complicate your little life."
Callian took a step forward, clenched his fists. "Is that a threat?"
Liam held up a hand. "Only if she insists on playing hardball. Look, Eira, I've got information. Connections. You know I can make things… easier." He shrugged. "But if you want to do this the hard way, I'm happy to watch you struggle."
Eira took a step closer. "You have no idea what you're asking for."
"Oh, I think I do." He leaned back. "The way I see it, you need me more than you'd like to admit."
Callian moved between them. "Back off, Liam. If you think for a second you can bully her—"
Liam laughed again. "Bully her? Please. Eira doesn't get bullied. But she does know when a deal's a deal."
"And what if I say no?"
Liam's smirk vanished, and he sharpened his tone. "Then you'll find out just how much I know about Henry's skeletons. And maybe yours, too."
Eira stared at him; she clenched her jaw.
But then, with a small, cold smile, she shrugged. "Good luck with that. Because by the time I'm done, there won't be anything left for you to cash in on. Not a single cent of it belongs to Henry, Liam. It was hers—and now, it's mine."
Liam held her glare; he narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then, slowly, he broke into another smile. "You're good. I'll give you that." He turned to Callian. "And you… Too bad your princess might have to get her hands dirty."
Callian didn't flinch. "If you try anything, I'll make sure it's the last thing you ever do."
Liam chuckled, pushing himself off the car. "Fine, fine. Consider this a friendly reminder, Eira. Don't get in over your head. The clock's ticking. Make the right choice."
As they drove back, none of them were saying anything.
The streetlights were dark yet cast shadows across Eira's face, which looked tense.
Callian stole a glance at her, and after a moment of silence, he spoke up.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Eira nodded, though her voice was hesitant. "As okay as I can be. Liam found a way of… digging where he shouldn't."
Callian clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening. "That guy… he's not just digging; he's practically threatening you."
He paused, glancing at her again. "Why does he think he knows so much about you? About Henry?"
Eira sighed, leaning back in her seat. "Liam seemed to know more than he should. Probably things he's overheard or seen. He's been around long enough, after all… he thinks I don't know, but people share information, you know…"
A beat of silence filled the car before Eira added, almost as if she'd been holding it back, "He's not wrong. People—like Henry—have a way of hiding things. And when no one's looking, they get away with things they shouldn't."
"What do you mean?"
She hesitated, glancing out the window as if she could somehow leave the memories there.
"Back in school, there was a teacher. He was… respected, trusted." She swallowed. "But he… singled me out. Said I needed 'extra help' and would have me stay after school. It started small—requests to stay late, to wear my skirt shorter… he'd say the most awful things. Called me… 'worthless' when I hesitated. And worse when I didn't listen."
Eira's voice cracked, and she stopped speaking.
Callian's face darkened, his jaw clenched as he struggled to keep his voice calm. "Your family… did they know?"
Eira shook her head. "No. My cousins… they laughed when I tried to tell them. Said I was making it up for attention at first."
Callian tightened his grip on the wheel even more; he was trembling due to restrained anger. "Why didn't they believe you? How could they not?"
"Because, to them, I was just the cousin they had to take care of," she whispered. "Just the extra mouth, the unwanted burden."
She took a deep breath. "Besides… my aunt, she had so much on her plate. She was drowning in debt, struggling with a divorce. She was barely keeping things together, and I didn't want to make things worse."
Callian's eyes relaxed as he looked at her. "You were just a kid, Eira. You shouldn't have had to handle that alone."
Eira bit her lip, looking down. "I thought… I thought maybe I deserved it somehow. That maybe if I could just be better, be quieter, then maybe I'd finally belong. I'd be good enough."
Callian's heart started aching for her. "You didn't deserve any of it, Eira… Not any of it. That teacher, those people who didn't believe you… they were wrong. And if they were here right now, I'd… I'd make sure they knew it."
"It's in the past now. I'm not that same girl anymore. I've learned to be stronger. To fight for myself, even if it means I stand alone."
"You're not alone," Callian said quietly, reaching over to take her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers gently, grounding her. "Not anymore."
"Thank you…"
"Eira, I know this might sound wrong, but were you ever happy?"
Eira looked through the window. "I don't know really… most of my life, I was busy, trying to stay strong instead of finding happiness."
Callian immediately stopped the car. "Eira!" he raised his voice.
"Callian, watch out!"
Beeeeep! Crash!