Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: What’s stopping you
Later, after work, Winter arrived at Dine & Drink Café, surprised to find only Felix waiting for her.

She had assumed Mia would tag along, especially since she hadn’t seen her when she left the office. But now, with Mia absent, an awkward tension stretched between them.

“Miss Winter, please have a seat,” Felix said politely, pulling out a chair for her.

Winter hesitated, his gesture making her uncomfortable. However, she didn’t dwell on it for too long and took the seat he offered.

She regretted not confirming the details earlier, but now, there was no turning back.

Let’s just get this over with.

“Actually, I wanted to thank you, Miss Winter,” Felix began.

The way his eyes never left hers made her uneasy. His words sounded sincere, yet there was something unsettling in his gaze—something she couldn’t quite decipher.

Winter looked away and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Felix. Helping a co-worker isn’t a big deal,” she replied.

Felix nodded in understanding. “It might not be for you, but for me, it is a big deal,” he muttered.

Winter noticed how Felix shyly looked away.

“Can we order the food?” she asked, unable to stand the awkwardness any longer. He nodded, and soon, they placed their order.

Felix had been smitten with Winter since the first day he saw her at the office. There had been speculation about her being the daughter of the well-known businessman David Greyson. However, her identity had only been confirmed a few days ago when details of her life became public knowledge.

“I’ve always admired strong, independent women like you,” he said suddenly, drawing Winter’s attention.

She paused, sensing where this conversation was headed.

And then, the words she had expected came.

“And I think I like you.”

Winter stilled, her eyes scanning his face. His tone was polite, sincere even, but something about the moment felt off.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, Miss Winter,” Felix continued. “I genuinely admire you, and that’s why I wanted to have dinner with you.”

“Then you must also know that I have a daughter,” Winter said, not rejecting him outright but watching for his reaction.

The hesitation in Felix’s expression made her smile.

He likely hadn’t read about her daughter—after all, the article had been taken down quickly, leaving little concrete information. But now that she had confirmed it herself, the sudden shift in his demeanor was undeniable.

Winter’s smile grew. “I didn’t mean to startle you, but that’s the reality of my life. And as much as I love my daughter, I doubt she would want anyone other than her father to love her mother.”

Her words were calm yet laced with a blunt finality that left Felix stunned.

His brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering in his eyes. “Are you saying… there’s someone—”

“Yes, I do,” Winter interjected smoothly. “And I have no reason to look elsewhere.”

Her words cut through any lingering curiosity, leaving no room for discussion.

Felix’s expression fell, and Winter sighed inwardly, scolding herself for being too harsh.

“Felix,” she softened her tone, “you’re a good man, and I know you’ll find someone who will love you for who you are. But that someone isn’t me.”

Felix nodded in understanding. Though the outcome wasn’t what he had hoped for, he was glad he had at least confessed. His admiration for Winter remained, even if it wasn’t reciprocated.

The dinner ended on a good note, and soon, Winter left the café to head home.

Felix had offered to drop her off, but she politely refused.

“It ended earlier than I expected,” she muttered, glancing at the time on her phone.

She considered calling Stanley but decided against it—he was busy with Lilac. Instead, she opted to take a cab.

As she scrolled through her phone, a sleek black Benz rolled up and stopped right in front of her.

Winter squinted at the tinted windows. A second later, the window rolled down, revealing Dorothy’s impassive face.

“Get in,” Dorothy instructed, her tone flat.

Winter chuckled. The moment she had been expecting had finally arrived.

Without hesitation, she stepped into the car, and they drove away.

Moments later, they sat inside a restaurant’s VIP booth, where Winter patiently waited for Dorothy to speak.

“You’re quite a catch, Winter. You wanted me to come begging for you, didn’t you?” Dorothy finally spoke, her tone laced with disdain.

Winter chuckled in amusement.

“I don’t see you begging, Dorothy. What you’re doing is threatening me to change my statement,” she replied, already knowing Dorothy’s intentions from the very beginning.

Dorothy’s lips pressed into a thin line. Before she could respond, Winter tilted her head mockingly.

“And I’m guessing your husband still doesn’t know you came looking for me… or does he?” she mused, pretending to ponder.

Her words only fueled Dorothy’s irritation.

“He is your father, Winter. Remember that.”

Winter’s laughter rang out louder, the absurdity of those words hitting her in a way that almost felt surreal. David, her father? She could barely remember him playing that role in her life.

“Now that was funny,” she said, giving Dorothy a pointed look.

Dorothy had tolerated Winter’s bluntness only because she needed her to bend. Yet, the girl had no hesitation in mocking her instead.

“Because of your report against Agnes, the entire world is laughing at us,” Dorothy seethed. “She not only lost her reputation but also her career—all because of one reckless move on your part.”

Winter’s smile vanished, her expression turning cold as she met Dorothy’s gaze with an unsettling intensity.

“So, what you’re saying is… I shouldn’t have done that?”

Her voice was quiet, but the weight of her words drilled into Dorothy like a blade.

Dorothy stiffened but refused to waver.

Winter leaned forward slightly, her piercing stare unrelenting.

“The road where your daughter was driving—drunk and reckless—had people walking on it,” she stated, her tone sharp and unwavering. “Even if I had walked away and left her dying in that car, the people there wouldn’t have stopped recording. So tell me, Dorothy, who is really at fault? Because it sure as hell isn’t me.”

She watched as the muscles in Dorothy’s face tightened.

Winter already knew the truth—their own lawyer had made it clear. Agnes was at fault. And there was nothing they could do to save her from the penalty.

“Is it because of the man supporting you that you suddenly have the guts to stand against us—your own family?” Dorothy sneered.

Winter’s eyes gleamed as she watched the layers of Dorothy’s carefully crafted facade begin to crack.

“As far as I remember, I only have one family, and that’s my grandfather,” she said with a casual shrug. “I don’t recall having any other.”

Dorothy’s lips twitched, her jaw clenching in barely contained frustration.

“You know, I could expose you and the man you had a child with,” she threatened.

Winter’s expression remained unfazed.

“Then what’s stopping you, Dorothy?” she challenged, tilting her head slightly. “But let me remind you of one thing—we both know what he’s capable of. So if you’re smart, you won’t cross his path.”

Dorothy stiffened. She knew going against Kalix would be a fatal mistake. However, what unsettled her more was how effortlessly Winter turned the threat back on her.

Winter smirked, sensing Dorothy’s hesitation. “Now that you have my answer—” She stood up, adjusting her coat. “I’ll take my leave.”

She paused mid-step, glancing over her shoulder.

“Oh, and one more thing,” she added, her tone sharp. “Tell your son-in-law to stop bothering me—because next time, he will be the one left in ruins.”

Without waiting for a response, Winter walked away, leaving Dorothy seething in silence.