Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Guilt trip
After dropping Winter off, Sylvester drove to Wilson’s house. A call from Beatrice the day before had prompted his visit, and though it wasn’t unusual to hear from her, an unshakable feeling settled in his chest every time he came.

His gaze lingered on Richard, his most trusted man, who now lay in a stagnant state, a mere shadow of the strong figure he once was. The accident had spared only Sylvester, leaving Richard trapped in this cruel fate.

That night, during the attack, Richard had risked his life to save Sylvester’s son and daughter-in-law. Yet, despite his bravery, he had failed to protect them.

Still, his sacrifice was etched into Sylvester’s heart in a way that made him feel forever indebted to Richard’s family.

With a quiet exhale, Sylvester shut the car door behind him and made his way to the backyard. There, inside the pavilion, Beatrice awaited, serving him a glass of fresh juice.

Silence thickened between them until Sylvester finally decided to break it.

“Regarding the alliance between Kalix and Diana… I think we need to reconsider it.”

Beatrice paused, her eyes meeting Sylvester’s in a knowing exchange.

She had known him for as long as she could remember and was well aware of how fair he had always been in making decisions. Ever since that ill-fated night when he lost his son and daughter-in-law, and his most trusted man, Richard, suffered an irreversible fate, Sylvester had done everything in his power to make amends.

He had funded her daughter’s education, ensured their needs were met, and spared no expense in hiring the best doctors for Richard’s treatment. That was his way of repaying them for what his enemies had taken, and yet, Beatrice couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

If only he hadn’t been such a defiant man, if only he had heeded the threats, perhaps things would have been different.

“I heard from Rita,” she said finally. “And if you ask me, I’d say there’s reason to be hopeful. But what about Diana? She dedicated her life to this alliance, looking forward to marrying Kalix. How am I supposed to explain this to her?”

Her eyes studied Sylvester as tension visibly settled into his posture.

“But that’s not my biggest concern right now,” she continued. “It’s about Rita this time. I heard Roger is planning to divorce her.”

Her words took Sylvester by surprise.

He knew the couple hadn’t been on speaking terms since Rita’s costly mistake, but he hadn’t realized Roger was going so far as to divorce her.

“My husband dedicated his life to serving you,” Beatrice went on, her voice thick with emotion. “He even took a bullet for your son, and it left him like this, trapped in a body that will never move again. But I never once complained, because I knew you wouldn’t let his sacrifice be in vain.”

“But this is about my daughter’s life,” Beatrice pressed, her voice laced with frustration. “What’s her fault in all of this? Roger is being too harsh on her. She was the one who was taken advantage of. She was the one who lost her child. And yet, she’s the one being blamed for something that happened in the midst of her emotional trauma?”

She knew her words were deliberate, carefully chosen to guilt-trip him. She had to be strategic. She couldn’t afford to lose her source of wealth and be forced into the kind of miserable life her husband now lived, a foolishly loyal man who had sacrificed everything for Sylvester.

That night, it should have been Sylvester who paid the price. And yet, it was his son and daughter-in-law who had suffered the consequences, their lives cut short in the name of his war. But that guilt…that deep, unshakable remorse was what kept Sylvester on edge. And Beatrice had learned to use it to her advantage.

She didn’t care about him or his family.

All she cared about was ensuring that the money kept flowing. That her life remained untouched by the poverty that had swallowed up her husband.

Sylvester couldn’t bring himself to speak. The guilt weighed heavy on him, seeping into his bones until it solidified into an undeniable truth he simply accepted.

“Don’t worry. Roger won’t divorce Rita. I’ll make sure of it,” he announced.

But Beatrice remained unfazed.

“And regarding Diana… I regret giving her false hope. But don’t worry if not, Kalix; I’ll find her a suitable match and make up for my mistake.”

With that, Sylvester stood up. He couldn’t stay there any longer and without another word, he left.

The moment the door shut behind him, a sinister smile curled on Beatrice’s lips.

She wasted no time. Quickly, she grabbed her phone and dialed Rita.

“It worked,” she murmured, satisfaction dripping from her voice.

***

Meanwhile, inside an apartment across town, Lily was still reeling from Sean’s words earlier.

“Roger finally made his move… What does he want from me now?”

Hadn’t he already broken her heart once? Was that not enough? And now, after all these years, he was trying to find his way back to her?

‘For God’s sake, Roger…you’re a married man.’

The sudden crackling sound of the door opening pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Gina stepping out, fully dressed and looking excited.

“Where are you going?” Lily asked, stopping her midway.

Gina beamed, practically bouncing on her feet as she rushed toward her. “Tell me, how do I look? Do you think this will charm Sean?” She asked, her voice brimming with anticipation.

Lily rolled her eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”

Ignoring Gina, she walked past her until the sudden ringing of the phone on the table made her pause.

She turned, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the number flashing on the screen.

Curiosity flared within her, and without a second thought, she picked up the call.

“Am I speaking to Miss Lily?”

The voice on the other end froze her in place.

She knew that voice.

And yet, her heart refused to accept it.

Gina, noticing Lily’s sudden stillness, frowned. Was someone threatening her?

“Maybe one of my exes?” she wondered, moving closer, trying to eavesdrop.

But she couldn’t hear a damn thing.

Still, the way Lily’s expression shifted. First shock, then something unreadable made it clear that something was very, very wrong.

“Okay. I’ll come meet you,” Lily finally said before abruptly ending the call.

The moment she turned, Gina pulled back, flashing a sneaky grin.

“Who was it? Any of my exes?” She teased, her voice filled with curiosity.

But instead of answering, Lily simply walked past her.

“Close the door before you leave,” she said, her tone firm.

Gina sighed, pouting as she watched Lily disappear. Still, she followed her orders, locking up before heading out.