Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 190

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Grandpa confirmed Alexander s identity

“Can you help me find out what’s in it?” Winter asked, handing the small glass bottle to Sean. Her voice was steady, but her fingers trembled slightly as she released it.

Sean’s eyes narrowed as he carefully examined the bottle, holding it up to the light. “Right away,” he promised, his tone turning serious. Without another word, he left, already heading toward his private lab to begin the analysis.

Winter let out a shaky breath before making her way toward Kalix’s office. But the moment she stepped inside, she found it empty—no sign of the man who seemed to fill every corner of a room just with his presence.

A moment of hesitation gripped her before curiosity won out. Winter moved past his desk, her fingers lightly brushing against the polished wood, before slipping through the hidden door that led to his private suite.

The spacious suite was an elegant blend of dark wood, steel, and soft leather—a place that carried Kalix’s unmistakable scent.

Normally, she would never dare to intrude like this, but she needed a moment to gather herself and clean the dirt staining the hem of her skirt.

Her thoughts kept racing, replaying the events with Eric. The sharp smell of the poison, the tense conversation—the way she had to distract him, knocking over his bag in a faux accident just to steal the bottle.

The second vial had shattered, its contents staining the expensive carpet in his office. But Eric hadn’t suspected a thing—he had been too busy cursing over the mess to realize what she had slipped into her pocket.

But something gnawed at her—who was that man who had handed Eric the poison? The exchange had been quick, almost casual, but Winter had caught the man’s cold smile, the way he leaned in to whisper something before leaving.

A shiver ran down her spine. Was Eric planning something even more sinister than she thought?

Winter dabbed a damp cloth against the stained fabric of her skirt, the cold water shocking against her skin, but it did little to distract her from her spiraling thoughts.

If that bottle was what she suspected—if it was poison meant for Agnes and her unborn child—then Eric was more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

Winter’s fingers flew over her phone screen, typing a message to Gina.

“We made a mistake by telling Eric about Agnes’s pregnancy.”

She hit send, and within seconds, Gina’s response appeared.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Winter’s pulse raced, her mind a chaotic swirl of thoughts. She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but the dread gnawing at her was impossible to ignore.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, about to type a reply when the door to the suite swung open.

Kalix stepped in, his sharp gaze immediately softening when it landed on her. Yet beneath that warmth, there was a flicker of concern.

“Did I disturb you?” he asked, his voice careful, though his unease was clear.

Winter’s lips parted, surprise and a touch of guilt flooding her. No one had access to his private suite except her—an unspoken trust he had extended to her. Yet seeing her here, lingering so long, had clearly worried him.

Her gaze flicked to the door, realizing how strange it must look—her hiding in his suite, her skirt stained, and the faint bruise on her knee.

“It’s… it’s nothing serious,” she managed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, but the way his gaze zeroed in on her skirt told her she wasn’t convincing enough.

“Nothing serious?” His voice remained gentle, but his jaw tightened. “Then why is your skirt dirty? And that scratch on your knee… how did that happen?”

Winter’s eyes followed his line of sight, catching the faint smear of dirt and the small scrape on her skin—a reminder of her hasty escape after her encounter with Eric.

“I…” Her voice faltered for a moment as she tried to come up with words to explain.

Kalix’s expression darkened instantly, the softness in his eyes replaced with a dangerous glint. He stepped closer, his towering frame enveloping her, and she could almost feel the tension radiating from him.

“Let’s clean this first,” Kalix said, his tone leaving no room for argument as he gently took her by the hand and led her to the room.

Winter stayed silent, watching him with a mix of surprise and nervous anticipation. His touch was careful but firm, his fingers brushing against her arm as he guided her toward the bed. The palpable tension between them was a silent storm, crackling in the air, and his silence was heavier than any scolding could have been.

Kalix didn’t waste time. He pulled open a drawer, retrieving the first aid kit with practiced ease before joining her on the edge of the bed. Without a word, he gently lifted her leg, resting it on his thigh. His touch was warm, steady—an odd contrast to the sharp focus in his eyes.

She couldn’t help but watch, her pulse quickening with each gentle brush of his fingers against her skin. His jaw was clenched, his expression unreadable, but the slight furrow between his brows betrayed his worry.

“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t cross paths with Eric,” he finally spoke, breaking the thick silence, his voice low and measured.

Winter’s throat tightened. His words weren’t sharp, but there was a tension beneath them—like a thread stretched too tight.

“I didn’t intend to, Kalix,” she whispered, guilt twisting in her stomach. “But… there’s something you need to know.”

His fingers paused briefly, the antiseptic-soaked cotton hovering over her scratch before he continued, dabbing it carefully. The sting was nothing compared to the weight of his gaze when he finally looked at her.

“What did he do?” he asked, his voice a dangerous calm.

Winter bit her lip, her mind racing. How much could she say without setting off an alarm? How could she tell him that the man she once trusted had become a monster without causing chaos?

“It’s not just about me… it’s about Agnes,” she began, watching as his brows knitted slightly, but his focus remained on her injury. “Eric… he’s planning something. Something terrible.”

Kalix’s grip on her leg tightened slightly, just enough for her to feel the subtle change. But his expression remained calm, a mask of control.

“Something terrible?” he echoed, pressing a fresh cotton pad against her wound. “Is he trying to harm you?”

“No. Not me…” Her voice faltered, her fingers twisting in the sheets. “Agnes. I think… I think he’s trying to hurt her. Or rather…”

She hesitated, fear clawing at her chest.

“Or rather… their child.”

Kalix’s hand froze. The stillness was suffocating. Slowly, his gaze lifted to meet hers, the sharp steel of his eyes darkening.

“He’s trying to harm his own child?” His voice was a whisper, the calm before a storm.

Winter nodded, her chest tightening. “I found something—a vial. I… I stole it from him. Sean’s looking into it right now, but I have a feeling… it’s poison, Kalix.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked. He leaned back slightly, his hands dropping to his sides, but she could still feel the weight of his tension pressing against her.

“And you went after him alone?” he asked, his voice chillingly calm. “Took something from him without knowing what he could do if he found out?”

Winter’s heart raced, a mix of shame and defiance flaring within her. “I couldn’t just stand by. If I didn’t get that bottle, I’d never know—”

“So you chose to put yourself in danger?” he cut her off, his voice rising slightly. But beneath the sharpness, she heard it—the fear.

“I didn’t plan on it, Kalix!” she shot back, her own frustration boiling over. “But standing by and doing nothing wasn’t an option.”

Their gazes locked, the air between them thick and electric. His fingers twitched against his thigh, and for a moment, she thought he would pull away, leave her there to simmer in the storm she had created.

But instead, his hand shot forward, cupping her cheek, pulling her closer. The warmth of his touch was a stark contrast to the icy fury in his eyes.

“You’re reckless,” he whispered, his voice a rough rasp, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “Reckless and stubborn.”

Winter’s breath caught, her pulse pounding beneath his touch. “And you’re overprotective.”

Kalix leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. His warm breath ghosted over her lips, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek with a tenderness that sent a shiver down her spine.

“If anything happens to you…” his voice wavered, the raw emotion slipping through. “Winter, you have no idea what that would do to me.”

Her heart skipped, her resolve melting under the weight of his confession. But she couldn’t let his concern cloud the urgency of the situation. Winter drew a steadying breath, her fingers gently pressing against his chest.

“I purposely staged it, Kalix,” she whispered, her voice steady but laced with urgency. “To make him believe it was purely a coincidence. I needed him to think I was just being careless, not that I was watching him.”

Kalix’s intense gaze softened, a hint of reluctant admiration flickering in his eyes. His thumb brushed against her cheek, tracing a slow, soothing line. “You’re clever. Too clever for your own good.”

“But I had to be sure,” Winter insisted, her fingers curling against his shirt. “And… there’s more.”

Kalix’s expression shifted instantly, his jaw tightening. “More?”

“Grandpa confirmed Alexander’s identity as the third investor,” she revealed, her voice low but firm.

Kalix’s brows pulled together, his hold on her subtly tightening.