Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: I have the evidence
At Greyson International, Byron’s expression darkened as he scanned the reports laid out before him.

The murmurs in the business world were growing louder—accusations that Greyson International had stolen designs from J&K International for their latest product launch.

“Care to explain, David? How did J&K’s designs end up in our product lineup”? Byron’s voice was calm, but his gaze was sharp, piercing straight through his son.

Byron Greyson was a man of principles. He had built his company on integrity, earning its success through relentless hard work and unyielding ethics.

Yet, under David’s leadership, the company’s reputation was crumbling, its stock value sinking, and whispers of misconduct were now threatening their partnerships.

David’s expression remained neutral, but a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Father. The designs we used are entirely our own. There’s no truth to these rumors.”

Byron’s jaw tightened. “No truth? Then explain why investors are questioning our credibility. Explain why J&K’s legal team is preparing a case against us.”

“Father, this is just a smear campaign. Our competitors are trying to drag us down—”

“Spare me the excuses, David!” Byron’s voice rose, a rare display of anger. “This company was built on honor, not deceit. If you have brought this shame upon us, you will be held accountable.”

David’s composure wavered, but he forced a defiant smile. “I told you, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Byron leaned back in his chair, his gaze unwavering. A heavy silence settled between them before he spoke, his voice cold and decisive. “Put a hold on the product launch until we prove ourselves innocent.”

David’s expression twisted in shock. “Are you insane? Do you even realize the losses we’ll incur if we suspend the launch?” He snapped, his voice rising.

“Months of development, millions in marketing—gone! All because of baseless rumors!”

Byron’s eyes didn’t waver. “Rumors can become facts in the eyes of the public if left unanswered. I won’t gamble this company’s reputation for a rushed profit.”

David’s hands clenched at his sides, his frustration barely contained.

For weeks, he had been desperately trying to reach Mr. Helms, the one man who could secure their product’s credibility. He had even traveled overseas, chasing a meeting with the elusive businessman.

But when he finally stood before Helms, the man had refused any negotiation. No amount of persuasion, offers, or veiled threats could sway him. Helms had simply dismissed him, treating David as nothing more than an overreaching amateur.

Humiliation burned in David’s chest that day. But humiliation soon gave way to anger—an anger that demanded action.

So he did what he had to. He found another way. A way to secure the designs that J&K International had spent months perfecting. He hadn’t just stolen them—he had seized them.

It was a calculated move, a shortcut to success. A way to finally prove himself.

And now, his father—his righteous, self-righteous father—was standing in his way.

David’s jaw tightened, the muscles ticking beneath his skin as he watched Byron deliver his ultimatum.

The old man spoke of honor, principles, and reputation as if they were treasures he alone could protect. As if David’s every decision was a threat to the empire Byron had built.

But Byron never saw the truth. He never saw how his suffocating control had been the real cause of David’s struggles. Always in the shadows, always pulling the strings—never letting David stand on his own, never trusting him with real power.

But this time, Byron wouldn’t stop him. Not now.

The project had the potential to be a massive success—a breakthrough that could save their sinking reputation and finally put David on the map as more than just Byron Greyson’s son.

But if Byron insisted on putting it on hold, then he would become an obstacle.

And David had no intention of letting an obstacle, even if it was his father, stand in his way.

Not this time.

“Then I’m sorry, Father,” David declared, rising from his chair with a cold, defiant glare. “But I won’t step back.”

His voice was sharp, laced with a challenge that hung heavy in the room. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel, his footsteps echoing against the marble floors.

The door closed behind him with a muted thud, but the tension he left behind was anything but silent.

Byron stared at the closed door, a mix of anger and disappointment tightening his chest. He had seen ambition before—he had built an empire with it. But in David’s eyes, he saw something else. Something darker.

On the other side of the door, David’s expression hardened. His father thought he could control everything, dictate every choice, even if it meant sacrificing everything David had worked for.

But not this time.

David’s mind was already racing, his fingers dialing a number on his phone. If Byron insisted on getting in his way, then David would simply have to move forward without him. Even if it meant taking drastic measures.

One way or another, this launch would happen—and it would be his victory, not his father’s.

***

“How much longer must we wait?” someone muttered, impatience lacing their voice.

Dianna leaned back in her chair, a single manicured finger tapping rhythmically against the polished armrest. Her gaze flicked to the clock on the wall—each ticking second a sharp reminder of her impending victory.

They were all gathered in the expansive meeting hall, a tension-laden silence hanging over the room.

The stolen designs had cast a shadow over the entire project—a product they had planned to launch by the end of the month, now marred by uncertainty. Panic simmered beneath the surface, whispers of doubt spreading like wildfire.

Would they even have a product left to launch?

Mr. Helms had given Winter a narrow window—just a few hours—to clear her name. A deadline that now loomed ever closer, threatening to seal her fate.

Yet as the minutes bled into one another, there was nothing. No frantic explanations. No desperate defense. Not a single word from Winter.

Dianna’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile. The silence was louder than any excuse Winter could have offered. To everyone present, it was an admission of guilt without a single word spoken.

Victory was not just a hope—it was inevitable.

“Kalix, how much longer should we wait? Mr. Helms needs an answer, and I think this delay is answer enough.” Dianna’s voice was sharp, cutting through the thick silence of the room.

Kalix, who had remained silent until now, shifted slightly, his dark eyes sweeping across the room with a calculated gaze. His expression remained unreadable—a mask of calm that betrayed nothing.

Yet beneath that calm exterior was a quiet intensity, a silent promise that he was assessing, calculating, and watching every reaction.

His fingers tapped once against the polished surface of the table, a subtle gesture that drew a few wary glances.

“Patience, Dianna,” he finally murmured, his voice smooth but edged with a quiet authority. “Rushing to conclusions benefits no one. Let’s allow Winter the time she was promised.”

But even as he spoke, his gaze settled on the clock, and something unreadable flashed in his eyes.

“I believe Miss Dianna has a point,” Mr. Helms interjected, his voice firm but tinged with growing impatience. “It’s nearly time, and yet Mrs. Winter has produced nothing to defend herself.”

They had been waiting for over an hour, the tense silence of the meeting room broken only by whispered speculations and the occasional shuffle of papers. With each passing minute, Mr. Helms’ confidence in Winter’s claims had begun to waver, replaced by a simmering sense of betrayal.

His gaze shifted to Kalix, his expression hardening. “Mr. Andreas, the financial loss my company will suffer because of this blunder is substantial. Rest assured, Mrs. Winter will face the consequences.”

“And as I have made clear before, you cannot target her without concrete evidence,” Kalix countered, his voice calm yet edged with unmistakable authority.

The room fell silent again, the tension thick enough to be cut with a knife. Kalix’s gaze remained steady, a quiet challenge in his eyes. He was not a man easily intimidated, and Mr. Helms was beginning to realize that.

They had been scrambling for leads, trying to untangle the threads of deception. Winter had been certain—almost defiantly so—that Dianna was behind the stolen designs. Yet as the minutes dragged on, they were left with nothing but suspicion.

But even now, despite the growing doubt around them, Kalix’s faith in Winter did not waver. Her quiet determination, the fire in her eyes when she promised to uncover the truth—it was enough for him.

And until the final second ticked away, he would stand by her.

Just when the suffocating silence threatened to swallow the room whole, the heavy doors of the meeting hall burst open with a sharp, echoing thud. All heads turned as Winter and Sean stepped in, the air around them charged with urgency.

“Apologies for keeping you all waiting,” Winter managed, slightly breathless, but her voice held steady. Her gaze swept across the room, a sea of skeptical faces, before finally settling on Dianna.

And there it was—a flicker of something in Dianna’s eyes, too brief for most to catch, but not for Winter.

“I have the evidence,” Winter announced, her voice slicing through the tense atmosphere like a blade.

A stunned silence fell over the room, heavy and absolute. A few exchanged uncertain glances, but the one who visibly flinched in her seat was Dianna.

Her confident composure wavered, a flicker of panic darting across her face before she quickly masked it.

But it was too late. Kalix’s sharp gaze didn’t miss it. Neither did Mr. Helms, whose once stern expression now shifted to cautious curiosity.