Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: It’s Dianna
Leaning back in her chair, Winter tried to relax, but the tension twisting in her chest refused to ease. Despite Kalix’s assurance that he would uncover the truth, she couldn’t help but blame herself.

The deal had been signed under her supervision—her responsibility. And yet, somehow, someone had stolen the designs and handed them directly to David Greyson.

Shock still rippled through her every time she thought about it. She had never intended to help her family’s business, nor would her grandfather ever involve her in such a scheme.

So how had the designs been stolen?

The question haunted her, each second a fresh wave of guilt and frustration. But then, like a bolt of lightning, clarity struck.

Winter shot upright in her chair, her mind racing.

Fragments of recent events flashed before her eyes—moments she had overlooked, subtle signs she had ignored.

Diana.

Diana had been the last person to question her decision—the one who had insisted they terminate the deal.

Could it be?

Winter didn’t waste a second. She stormed out of her office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, each step fueled by anger and determination. Without knocking, she flung open Diana’s office door.

“Diana!” Winter’s voice was sharp, almost a snarl. “Why would you do it? The designs—it was you who stole them, wasn’t it?”

Diana looked up, surprise flickering across her face for a brief moment before it settled into a mocking smile.

“Excuse me?” she drawled, leaning back in her chair, crossing her arms. “So, just because I questioned your decision, you barge in here to accuse me of theft? Is this how you handle your failures, Winter? Blaming others for your own incompetence?”

Anger flared in Winter’s chest, her fists clenching at her sides. Diana’s dismissive tone only strengthened her suspicions.

“Don’t twist this around, Diana. I know exactly what I’m capable of—and I know what you are.” Winter’s voice was low and steady but laced with fury. “This was your doing, wasn’t it? Undermining me, sabotaging my work just because you couldn’t stand my decisions.”

Diana’s expression shifted—cold amusement melting into something sharper, a flicker of something darker.

“And even if I did,” Diana leaned forward, her voice a chilling whisper, “what are you going to do about it, Winter? Cry to Kalix? Run to your grandfather? Or are you finally ready to admit that you were never cut out for this?”

Winter’s nails bit into her palms, but she refused to back down. “Keep underestimating me, Diana. You’ll see just how wrong you are.”

“You won’t be able to do anything, Winter.” Diana’s voice dripped with cold confidence as she rose from her seat, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She stepped forward, stopping just inches from Winter, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

“There is no proof you can provide—nothing to tie me to the stolen designs,” Diana continued, a smug smile tugging at her lips. “You can rant, accuse, and storm around all you want. But in the end, you’ll have nothing. And when you fail, it won’t just be your reputation on the line—it’ll be Kalix who suffers the loss.”

Winter’s jaw tightened, anger and disbelief warring within her. Diana wasn’t just denying the accusation—she was openly challenging her. No pretense, no false denials. Just raw arrogance.

It hit Winter then—she had been a fool. It was foolish to think Diana’s constant interference was merely jealousy or petty rivalry. No, Diana had been playing a far more dangerous game, lurking in the shadows, waiting for her moment to strike.

But this confidence—this brazen arrogance—it was something else.

“You’re too bold, Diana,” Winter replied, a calm, icy edge slipping into her voice. “Bold enough to think you can openly admit your involvement without consequence.”

Diana’s smile widened. “That’s because there won’t be any consequences. You have nothing on me, Winter. Nothing but your baseless suspicions. Go ahead, run to Kalix, cry to your grandfather. See how far it gets you.”

Winter’s heart raced, but she forced herself to remain steady. If Diana thought she was untouchable, then she was making a critical mistake.

“You think this is over, but it isn’t.” Winter leaned in, her voice a low, dangerous whisper. “You’ve just shown your hand, Diana. And I promise you—I’ll make you regret it.”

Winter turned and walked out of the office, her mind a storm of thoughts. Diana’s arrogance was her weakness, and Winter would exploit it.

Without wasting another second, Winter stormed into Kalix’s office, her pulse racing.

“It’s Diana. She stole the designs,” she announced, her voice edged with urgency.

Kalix looked up from his desk, his expression unreadable. His calm demeanor was like a cold splash of water against her blazing anger, and it only fueled her frustration.

“I suspected the same,” he admitted, leaning back in his chair, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against his chin. “But there’s no proof. Not a shred of evidence tying her to the theft—which is… surprising.”

Winter’s brow furrowed, confusion mixing with her growing impatience. “How is that possible? Diana practically admitted it. There must be something. Check the security footage inside the company.”

Kalix’s gaze didn’t waver. “You think I haven’t done that already? Sean combed through every second of footage. Not a single lead. Nothing out of the ordinary. No unauthorized entries. No suspicious activities.”

Winter felt her confidence waver. “How is that possible?” she whispered, disbelief thick in her voice.

“Diana walked into the company with a clear intention, Angel,” Kalix murmured, his gaze sharp and calculating. “And she made sure she played her role flawlessly.”

His words sent a chill through Winter. They both knew Diana was dangerous, but this was a new level. The audacity—the sheer confidence of targeting Kalix himself—was something she hadn’t anticipated.

“She’s not just sabotaging me,” Winter realized, her voice barely above a whisper. “She’s coming for you too.”

Kalix’s jaw tightened. “She always was. But now, she’s gotten bolder. And if she’s this confident, it means she thinks she’s untouchable.”

A sense of dread washed over Winter. Diana wasn’t just a schemer—she was a threat hiding in plain sight, and now she was making her move.

But before either of them could speak further, a sharp knock at the door shattered the tense silence.

Kalix’s gaze flickered toward the door, his expression instantly shifting back to his calm, authoritative mask. “Come in.”

The door swung open, and Sean stepped inside, his expression grave.

“Apologies for the interruption,” Sean began, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “But there’s something you both need to see. It’s about David.”

Kalix’s gaze sharpened instantly, while Winter’s breath caught.

“David?” she repeated, her mind racing.

Sean stepped forward, a tablet in his hand. “He’s been trying to get in touch with Mr. Helms regarding a few projects he claimed he wanted to collaborate on. But that wasn’t all.”

He tapped the screen, pulling up a series of emails and call logs. “The last time they met was two days ago—overseas.”

Kalix’s brow furrowed, and Winter leaned closer, her eyes scanning the screen. “Overseas? But David’s been here… Hasn’t he?”

“That’s what we thought,” Sean continued. “But his travel records show otherwise.”

Suddenly, a memory sparked in Winter’s mind. “Wait—Grandpa mentioned it. He said Mr. Greyson was on a business trip.”

Kalix’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. “Which means he wasn’t just randomly overseas—he was there for this deal.”

Turning sharply to Sean, Kalix’s voice was firm. “Get me the full details—when, how, and where they met. I want everything. And do it quickly.”

“On it,” Sean responded without hesitation, already moving swiftly out of the room.

Winter turned to Kalix, her expression fierce. “I’m certain it’s Diana who’s helping him. This all lines up.”

“Exactly,” Kalix agreed, his voice calm but laced with a dangerous edge. “But now we have a lead. David’s movements and that meeting—it’s the thread that can unravel this whole scheme.”

Meanwhile, inside her office, the moment Winter walked out, Diana’s calm façade shattered. She grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed a number.

The call connected, and she didn’t waste a second. “Listen to me carefully. You need to be cautious. Winter and Kalix aren’t backing down. I can see it in their eyes—they’re determined to come out of this clean. If Kalix figures out what we’ve done, we’re both finished.”

A tense silence stretched on the other end before a voice finally responded, muffled but tense. “I told you we covered our tracks. There’s nothing they can pin on us.”

“Are you so sure?” Diana snapped, her voice a harsh whisper. “Winter came in here accusing me directly, and Kalix is already suspicious. They’re not idiots, and they won’t stop until they have proof.”

“Then keep your distance. Act normal. Let me handle the rest.”

Diana clenched her jaw. “Fine. But if anything goes wrong, don’t expect me to take the fall alone.”

She ended the call with a frustrated sigh, tossing the phone onto her desk. Leaning back, she took a deep, unsteady breath, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

Winter had openly challenged her—pushed her into a corner. And for the first time, Diana felt the cold prickle of fear. They might have erased the traces, but that didn’t mean they were safe.

The pressure was mounting. She needed to be careful. One wrong move, and the noose would tighten.

But there was still time—time to stay ahead of Winter and Kalix. Time to protect herself.