Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: I love you, Kalix

Later that evening, Gina arrived at the penthouse, her expression tight with concern after Sean disclosed the incident involving Seren and the others.

The moment she stepped inside, she demanded to see Seren. Finding the little girl safe, playing as if nothing had happened, Gina finally allowed herself a shaky breath of relief.

“I’m glad Stanley and Lilac handled everything so wisely,” Gina murmured, her mind still reeling from the realization that someone had dared to threaten them. “That was completely unexpected.”

“Kalix has already tightened security,” Winter said, her voice low. “But we still don’t know how many eyes are on us. Do you remember that incident when I was coming back from the Hillstone site”?

Gina’s eyes darkened as she nodded. How could she forget?

Winter continued, her words carefully measured. “Kalix believes it’s the same person.”

She recalled Kalix explaining how he had found the cab driver — the one Agnes had arranged for a staged kidnapping. But the man who had actually picked Winter up that day had a far more sinister agenda: he hadn’t been sent to scare her. He had been sent to hurt her.

A heavy silence settled between them. Gina stared into the distance, her mind working through everything Winter had said.

“It’s getting dangerous, Winter,” she finally whispered. “Kalix getting involved with someone who isn’t afraid to go after his family… that’s terrifying. What do you think will happen now?”

Gina wasn’t easily rattled. She had seen enough in life to keep her calm even in the worst situations. But tonight, there was a different fear threading through her veins — a fear that came from the unknown enemy willing to use innocent lives to send their message.

It made her blood run cold.

“Honestly, Gina,” Winter said quietly, “I don’t even know what’s going to happen. But one thing I do know — I can’t leave Kalix now. He’s stepped into something dangerous… all to uncover the truth about who was behind his parents’ deaths. I need to be there for him. I want to be there.”

Saying it out loud made Winter realize how deeply entwined her life had become with his. A life without Kalix now felt hollow, incomplete. If anything were to happen to him, it wouldn’t just shatter him — it would destroy her too.

Gina studied her closely, then gave a small, knowing smile. “So, he’s not just important to you anymore,” she said, her voice soft. “He is your heart.”

Winter blinked, the words pulling her out of her thoughts. That truth had been quietly growing inside her for a long time, but it had solidified the day Kalix was hurt — the day she almost lost him.

“I’m taking your silence as a yes,” Gina teased gently. “But tell me, have you actually told him you love him? Or are you just staring at him like a lovesick puppy and hoping he picks it up telepathically?”

Winter let out a breathy laugh, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “You know I’m not good at… saying it out loud,” she muttered. “But my actions—”

“—are supposed to speak louder than words, I know,” Gina cut in with a chuckle. “But sometimes, sweetheart, men need it spelled out for them. Especially stubborn ones like Kalix.”

Winter smiled, a mixture of nerves and affection curling in her chest. Maybe Gina was right. Maybe it was time Kalix heard it — not just felt it.

Winter and Gina lingered a little longer, sharing quiet conversation while Kalix spoke with Sean in his study. When Gina finally left, Winter found herself drawn to him, unable to ignore the pull any longer.

She entered the study silently, her steps soft against the floor.

Kalix sat behind his desk, his head bowed low, hands clasped tightly together on the tabletop. His entire posture spoke of exhaustion — the heavy slump of his shoulders, the stillness that replaced his usual commanding presence. The chaos of the day had worn him down.

Winter approached quietly, not wanting to startle him. But as if sensing her presence, Kalix lifted his head.

The moment their eyes met, Winter froze.

His gaze — normally so sharp, so unbreakable — was filled with sorrow, his eyes rimmed with red. She parted her lips in a small, soundless gasp, stunned by the depth of emotion she saw in him. It wasn’t anger or frustration.

It was pain.

Pain so raw it suffocated her just standing there.

“Kalix…” she whispered, her voice trembling as she stepped closer. “You’re hurting.”

He didn’t speak right away, just stared at her like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to lean on her or if he needed to carry it all alone.

Winter moved instinctively, closing the distance between them. She reached for his hand, prying his tense fingers apart and weaving hers through them.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” she murmured, her thumb brushing over the back of his hand. “You have me. Always.”

For a moment, Kalix simply stared at her, the weight of the day crashing down through the look he gave her. Then slowly, almost hesitantly, he squeezed her hand back — as if grounding himself in her touch.

And Winter knew, in that silent, heart-wrenching moment, he needed her more than ever.

“You think I made a mistake… telling everyone about you? About us?” Kalix asked, his voice low and rough, barely hiding the tremor underneath.

Winter immediately shook her head, the rawness in his tone pulling her even closer.

Standing in front of him, she reached out, cupping his jaw so he couldn’t look away. Her eyes locked onto his, steady and sure. “You did everything to protect me,” she said firmly. “And I told you—I’m not scared. Whatever comes, wherever this leads, I’m with you. Always.”

Kalix wanted to believe her. God, he wanted to cling to her certainty. But after what had happened today, the dread in his chest was suffocating.

He had never cared about his own life before. He was raised to be fearless — ruthless — showing no weakness, especially before his enemies. But Winter… Winter had changed everything. She’d broken through the armor he wore like a second skin.

Now, he dreamed of a life he had never dared to imagine: a home filled with her laughter, a future built around their daughter’s smiles.

And tonight, it all felt like it was slipping through his fingers.

His enemies — the ones he had provoked, challenged, and defeated —weren’t coming for him anymore. They were targeting the people he loved. Attacking them without warning. And the worst part?

He didn’t even know who they were.

Kalix raked a hand through his hair, his frustration bleeding through his movements. “It’s not just about me anymore,” he said hoarsely. “It’s you. Seren. They’re going after what’s mine… and I don’t even know who the fuck they are.”

Winter didn’t flinch at the rawness in his voice. Instead, she leaned closer, resting her forehead lightly against his.

“Then we’ll find them together,” she whispered fiercely. “You’re not alone in this, Kalix. Not anymore. We fight — together.”

And for the first time that night, Kalix felt a flicker of strength return — not the cold, brutal kind he was used to, but a strength born from her belief in him.

It was enough to make him believe… maybe, just maybe, they still had a fighting chance.

Kalix reached out and gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist, pulling her closer. Without a word, he guided her onto his lap, needing her near, needing her warmth.

He leaned forward, resting his head against her chest, letting the steady rhythm of her heartbeat soothe the chaos inside him. Little by little, the tight knot of tension in his chest began to unravel.

And then, in the softest, most certain voice, Winter spoke.

“I love you, Kalix.”

The words hit him like a shockwave, echoing through his mind, reverberating again and again like a broken record he couldn’t stop replaying.

Kalix stiffened slightly, his heart slamming against his ribs. He pulled back just enough to see her face, his eyes searching hers with a sudden, fierce urgency.

“What… what did you just say?” he asked, almost afraid he had imagined it.

But Winter’s gaze didn’t waver. There was no hesitation, no confusion clouding her features. She had found her clarity long ago — she had just been waiting for the right moment to give him the truth he so desperately needed.

“I love you,” she said again, softer this time, but no less sure. “I’ve known it for a while. I was just waiting… waiting for the right moment to tell you.”

Kalix stared at her, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions he could barely put into words. For a man who longed to hear those three magical words, his Winter was nothing short of shattering.

And this time, he didn’t hold back.

Kalix’s breath caught in his throat as her words sank in, and in that instant, something shifted between them. The tension that had gripped him for days now melted away, replaced by an aching, raw need. He didn’t say anything at first, but the way his gaze burned into hers was enough to tell her everything she needed to know.