Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 134

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Just a small one
“You can’t do this to me, Kalix,” Dianna stuttered, his words far too cruel for her to bear.

“Try me, Dianna,” Kalix said coldly. “You’ve already been spared once—something I rarely do—and yet you dare to double-cross me?”

He wasn’t in the mood for games.

His mind was already a mess, and now her betrayal was threatening to snap the last thread of his patience.

“I’ll give you one chance,” he announced suddenly, rising from his chair and walking around the table until he stood directly in front of her.

“Tell me the truth, and I might spare you,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Dianna had never imagined Kalix would confront her like this, let alone deliver an ultimatum. But as she stared into his unwavering eyes, a chilling realization struck her—she was standing on the edge of a crumbling world, and one wrong word could send it all crashing down.

“Why don’t you believe me?” Dianna shot to her feet, the weight of his blood-chilling stare making it hard to breathe.

Thankfully, they were alone. No audience. No prying eyes. She still had her pride, and she intended to protect it.

“I would never betray you, Kalix. I’ve always adored you. Why can’t you see that? I am sure someone is trying to trap me.” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes, her emotions finally breaking through the surface.

She was tired—tired of showing him her devotion through actions he never acknowledged. Tired of being invisible in the one place she wanted to be seen. And now? Now she didn’t care if it made her look weak.

“Then prove it,” Kalix said coldly. “Prove that you’re being dragged into this mess. If you can’t, then feel free to let the cops deal with you—because I won’t waste my time on a liar and a traitor.”

With that, he turned away, leaving Dianna with nothing but the echo of his final word—and no room left to run.

“You can’t do this to me, Kalix! Why don’t you believe me?” Dianna cried, her voice raw with emotion—but Kalix didn’t even spare her a glance.

She knew she had messed up this time, maybe beyond repair. But she wasn’t ready to give up on him. Not yet.

“Now I understand why you’re being unfair to me,” she said, her voice lower, edged with bitter realization.

That made Kalix pause. He turned, his eyes narrowing.

“It’s because I was with Winter when she bribed Kingstone, isn’t it?” Dianna sneered, disgust twisting her features at the very mention of Winter’s name—the woman who had ruined everything for her. The reason Kalix had never been hers.

“I never said that,” Kalix replied, voice tight.

“BUT YOU FEEL IT!” Dianna snapped, storming toward him, her eyes burning.

“Are you so blind you can’t see how she’s manipulating everything? She’s the one who brought all this misfortune into your life—and yet you’re blaming me?” Her voice cracked with desperation, but she refused to back down.

She would cling to her lie if it meant turning the tide in her favor. If it meant getting Winter out of the picture once and for all.

“But I won’t back down, Kalix,” she said, straightening her spine. “I am innocent—and you’ll see that soon enough.”

With those final words, she turned on her heels and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

She knew Kalix wouldn’t let this slide. From now on, she’d have to tread even more carefully—because the game had changed, and so had the stakes.

As soon as Dianna stepped out, her eyes locked with Winter’s. The same cold, unreadable look she had just seen in Kalix’s eyes was now mirrored in Winter’s. And just the sight of her made Dianna’s blood boil.

‘I’ll get rid of you soon,’ Winter, she swore silently, her glare sharp and full of venom. Then she turned on her heels and walked away without another word.

The news of Dianna being fired by Kalix spread like wildfire, leaving everyone stunned. But no one knew the real reason behind his decision. Kalix was playing a dangerous game—keeping her out in the open, free to plot and move, all so they could eventually catch her slipping.

What they didn’t realize was that Dianna wasn’t going to fall that easily. She was dangerous, calculating—and this time, she wasn’t going down without a fight.

***

Later that evening, as they drove back home, Winter could feel the tension radiating off Kalix like a storm waiting to break. The silence between them was heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts. They hadn’t had a chance to talk since everything went down, but now, with just the two of them alone in the car, Winter couldn’t hold back any longer.

“What’s bothering you?” she asked softly, her eyes flicking toward him as the city lights passed by outside.

Kalix’s thoughts kept drifting back to the revelation Sean had given him that morning, and now he found himself tangled in uncertainty. How was he supposed to tell Winter? How could he break it to her without causing a rift between them?

He didn’t want to spark any misunderstandings, especially when they didn’t have enough concrete evidence to support their suspicions. But with her grandfather involved, Kalix knew one thing for certain—he wouldn’t be able to keep it from her for long. Not when the truth could change everything.

A smile stretched across Kalix’s lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes—and that unsettled Winter more than she cared to admit.

“I’m just tired… after everything that happened,” he said quietly.

It was rare for Kalix to express anything resembling exhaustion, but knowing he was still recovering from his injuries, Winter couldn’t help but believe him.

Maybe he really was tired, she reasoned. Especially after rushing back to the company because of my message…

“What should I do to make you feel better?” She asked, her voice soft, her eyes searching his with genuine concern.

Kalix blinked, surprised by the ease and sincerity in her words—as if caring for him was second nature. As if it was her responsibility.

His gaze darkened with a flicker of mischief as he slowly leaned closer.

“A kiss would do,” he murmured, eyes flicking to her lips, “but my body is suddenly craving more.”

Winter gulped, her breath catching as his intense stare sent heat flooding to her cheeks. She quickly looked away, flustered.

“We’re in the car, Kalix,” she said, clearing her throat, trying to compose herself.

Kalix let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by her reaction. She was always so easy to rattle. His expression softened, and before he could stop himself, he reached out, gently tilting her chin toward him.

“Just a small one,” he whispered—and sealed her lips with his.

Winter was left breathless in no time, her heart thudding as Kalix pulled away. The heat in his eyes hadn’t faded—intense and laced with desire—but beneath that, she caught something else. Something she couldn’t quite place.

Was that… guilt?

Before she could untangle the thought, they were already pulling into the driveway.

Ever since Seren had found Flash, her beloved kitten, she had barely spent any time with her parents. Still, she always made sure to check in—just like now, when both Flash and Seren came running as soon as they stepped into the house.

“Mommy! Daddy! Look what I got from school!” Seren exclaimed, waving a colorful sheet before thrusting it into their hands.

“A picnic?” Winter murmured, furrowing her brows as she read it, then passed the paper to Kalix.

“Do you want to go, Star?” Kalix asked, crouching slightly to meet his daughter’s excited eyes.

Winter watched with a skeptical look. Kalix seemed to agree to everything Seren asked for without a second thought. Then again, she couldn’t blame him—Star had him wrapped around her little finger.

“Oh, Daddy, you’re so smart!” Seren squealed and threw her arms around his leg.

“How did you know I wanted to go?” she giggled, flashing a cheeky grin.

Winter rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. It was like she’d vanished from the scene entirely, and for a brief second, she felt unnecessary. Still, she knew she’d need to bring up the picnic—and Kalix’s earlier strange behavior—later.

By the time Kalix entered the room, Winter had already changed into a fresh pair of clothes. But before she could even say a word, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing gentle kisses along her neck.

“I swear, sometimes I forget you’re still recovering,” Winter murmured, pulling away slightly and turning to face him.

“You started it in the car, Angel,” he smirked, his voice low and teasing. “And now I’m craving more.”

He leaned in again, lips brushing against her neck as his hands settled on her waist. Kalix began to nibble gently, the need to taste her overpowering his restraint. But Winter didn’t give in completely this time.

She let him linger just long enough—offering him the affection he silently craved—before placing her hands on his chest and gently pushing him back.

“That’s enough,” she said with a soft smile, then shifted her tone. “Why did you agree to let Star go on the picnic?”

Kalix blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation.

“Are you not worried?” she continued, her brows knitting with concern. “You know people might still be watching us. Watching her.”

She had saved the topic for later, but the moment felt right—especially when it involved their daughter’s safety.

“Mrs. Brooke and a few of my men will monitor her,” he said in assurance.