Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: I won’t let anything happen to you two

The following morning, Sean met Gina at a quiet corner of their favorite coffee shop. She slid into the booth across from him, the morning light catching in her hair. But the moment she saw the photos he laid out, all thoughts of coffee and small talk vanished.

Her eyes widened.

“That’s Alexander,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. She darted her gaze up to meet Sean’s, searching for confirmation.

“I know,” Sean said, his voice low, rough with frustration. “And I hate that I didn’t see it sooner.”

Last night, after Kalix tipped him off about Alexander being present at the summit Kalix’s parents attended, Sean wasted no time. He called Niko and ordered a deep search.

Yet despite every resource at their disposal, there was no Alexander listed. It was as if the man they recognized in the photo didn’t exist.

Gina leaned closer, her hand brushing Sean’s as she pulled the picture toward her. A shiver ran up his arm at the brief contact.

“You think he changed his name?” She murmured, glancing at him from under her lashes. “That’s how he got access?”

Sean nodded grimly. “It’s the only thing that fits. But why go through all that trouble? What was he after?”

They sat there in the silence, the weight of the mystery pressing down between them. Gina’s fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of the photo, her brows furrowed in thought.

Sean caught himself staring — not at the evidence — but at her. The intensity in her eyes, the stubborn set of her jaw. God, she was beautiful when she was focused.

“It’s more than just a name,” Gina said after a moment, pulling him back to the matter at hand. “He wanted to be invisible. He planned it.”

“And we missed it,” Sean muttered, anger threading through his voice — anger at himself, at the years wasted chasing shadows.

Gina reached across the table, curling her fingers around his. The touch was simple and steady, but it anchored him.

“Hey,” she said softly. “We see him now. And we’ll find out everything.”

Their eyes locked, the promise unspoken but powerful. For a second, the chaos of the investigation faded, and it was just the two of them — hearts pounding for more reasons than one.

Sean squeezed her hand gently, then let go, even though every part of him wanted to hold on.

“We’re close, Gina. Closer than anyone’s ever been.”

“And we’re doing it together,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips — a hint of the warmth that existed between the layers of adrenaline and fear.

Alexander had been a ghost for too long. But Sean swore silently — with Gina by his side, they’d finally drag him into the light.

Sean gave her a teasing smile, squeezing her hand across the table.

“By the way,” he said, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, “when are you taking me on that date? Now that we’re officially together, don’t you think it’s about time?”

Gina’s smile faltered for a second, sadness flickering in her eyes before she masked it. She had promised herself she would take him out, give him the night he deserved — but life, danger, and everything between had gotten in the way.

And now, sitting across from him, she realized she didn’t want to let another moment slip away.

“I will,” she said softly, threading her fingers through his. Her voice held a quiet promise. “And trust me, Sean… you’re going to love it.”

His lips curved into a slow, satisfied grin, but Gina’s mind was already racing — filled with all the secret plans she had saved just for him.

Plans she intended to make unforgettable.

As the couple finished their coffees and stepped out of the shop, Gina’s steps faltered. Her hand tightened slightly around Sean’s as she stared across the street.

“What is Agnes doing here?” she said under her breath.

Sean immediately followed her gaze. Across the road, they spotted Agnes slipping into a black car, her head down, moving quickly.

Gina’s brows furrowed. Her eyes drifted to the building Agnes had just exited — a discreet, glass-fronted clinic. Her stomach twisted when she caught sight of the sign: Women’s Health and Fertility Center.

“Isn’t that a… gynecology clinic?” Gina muttered, throwing Sean a confused look.

He shrugged, but his expression was just as puzzled.

Gina’s mind whirled. Agnes wasn’t someone she trusted — and she certainly wasn’t someone she forgave easily. Their history was layered in grudges and unfinished business. And now, seeing her here, sneaking around, only made Gina’s instincts flare sharper.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, masking her sudden surge of curiosity with a cool smile before getting inside Sean’s car and driving off.

***

Inside the car, Lilac had Seren squeezed tightly in her arms, peppering her cheeks with endless kisses.

“My sweet little pie, I missed you so, so much!” she cooed dramatically.

Seren squealed with laughter, wriggling in Lilac’s grasp as her aunt hugged and swished her around like the living teddy bear she was. Her giggles filled the car like sunshine.

After returning from her school picnic, Winter had happily handed Lilac and Stanley the task of bringing Seren home — and neither of them had hesitated. Now, on the way to J&K International, the car was alive with chatter, laughter, and Seren’s excited recounting of her adventures.

Stanley smiled as he drove, his free hand reaching back occasionally to gently ruffle Seren’s hair as he listened to her animated stories.

“You know, Aunt Lilac,” Seren said, her little voice serious, “there was a boy who saved me when I almost fell into the water. And ever since then—”she paused for dramatic effect “I” can’t stop following him!”

Stanley immediately choked on his own breath, coughing into his fist and darting a panicked glance at Lilac through the rearview mirror.

Lilac, however, recovered with theatrical grace, gasping as if Seren had just revealed a scandalous secret.

“Is that so, my darling cutie pie?” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice like they were sharing top-secret gossip. “And what’s the name of this brave young hero you can’t stop following, hmm?”

Seren puffed out her tiny chest proudly.

“His name is Eli! He says I’m like a puppy who keeps chasing him!”

Stanley bit back a laugh, trying to keep a straight face, while Lilac clutched her chest dramatically.

“A puppy?” she gasped. “Well, if you’re a puppy, then you’re the cutest one in the whole wide world!”

Seren beamed, kicking her legs happily against the seat.

“Just like Flash,” she exclaimed.

The car rolled on, filled with sunshine, giggles, and the kind of innocent magic only a four-year-old could create.

But then, without warning, the car jerked forward as Stanley pressed harder on the gas, yanking both Lilac and Seren back against their seats.

Lilac snapped her head toward him, her voice sharp with alarm.

“Slow down, Stanley! You can’t speed here!”

Stanley didn’t look at her. His focus was locked on the rearview mirror, his jaw tight.

“Someone’s tailing us,” he muttered under his breath.

Those four words wiped the lightness from the car in an instant. Lilac’s heart lurched, and she immediately turned to check the side mirror. Sure enough, a sleek black car hovered dangerously close behind them, matching their every move.

“Who are they?” she asked, her voice low and tense.

Stanley shook his head, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

“I don’t know,” he said grimly. “But they’ve been following us for a while now.”

Lilac instinctively tightened her arms around Seren, holding her close, her mind already racing with possibilities — none of them good.

Stanley made a sharp turn onto a side street, eyes flickering to the rearview mirror again. The black car followed, never losing ground.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

Lilac hugged Seren tighter, pressing a kiss to her forehead to keep her calm. “It’s okay, baby,” she whispered, trying to mask the fear tightening her chest. “We’re just going for a little adventure, alright?”

Seren, sensing the tension but trusting her aunt, nodded quietly and nestled closer.

“Stanley, what do we do?” Lilac asked urgently.

“I’m going to try to lose them,” he said, voice steady despite the pressure mounting around them. “Hold on.”

He made another sharp turn, speeding into a denser part of the city where the streets crisscrossed like a maze. The black car stayed in pursuit, relentless.

Stanley cursed under his breath again, eyes scanning ahead.

“If they stay on us after this next turn, I’m calling the boss,” he said.

Lilac’s heart jumped at the mention of Kalix. If Kalix got involved, it meant this wasn’t random. It was targeted.

She forced herself to stay calm, stroking Seren’s hair as if everything was perfectly normal.

“Stanley,” Lilac said, her voice low, “if anything happens, you don’t stop. You drive straight to Kalix’s building.”

“I know,” Stanley nodded grimly. “I won’t let anything happen to you two.”