Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Chapter 206: It’s time to face the consequences
While Lilac headed to her office, Gina remained in the car, her fingers lightly drumming against the steering wheel. Lilac’s words echoed in her mind, raising a storm of questions she couldn’t shake.

She had never believed Alexander was just an ordinary man. From the moment she first met him years ago, there was an air of mystery surrounding him—a darkness that seemed to touch the lives of everyone close to her. Yet, somehow, no one truly seemed to know who he was.

“Alexander… Who the hell are you?” She muttered under her breath, her gaze lost in the bustling view outside.

Her quiet contemplation was interrupted by the sudden sound of the passenger door opening. Sean slid into the seat, his familiar presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.

“I wouldn’t have minded if you came straight to my office,” he teased, leaning over to capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. “But meeting in the car is so much better because…”

He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her lips. “Kissing has no restrictions here.”

A playful smile danced on his lips, leaving Gina momentarily speechless. Whatever lingering thoughts of Alexander she had were scattered, replaced by the rush of Sean’s touch and the heat of his words.

But Gina wasn’t one to back down easily. Her lips curved into a sly smile as she leaned in, her voice a whisper against his.

“I wouldn’t mind kissing you in front of the world,” she murmured, letting her lips brush against his, teasing him. “But for now, we need to be cautious.”

A soft chuckle escaped Sean, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He leaned back, a hint of curiosity crossing his face.

“Something on your mind?” he asked, his gaze searching hers.

Gina hesitated, her smile faltering for just a second.

“Alexander wants to meet me,” she admitted, watching the playful light in Sean’s eyes instantly vanish.

Silence settled between them like a thick, suffocating fog. Despite agreeing to her involvement with Alexander, Sean couldn’t hide the tension that twisted through him. Worry flickered in his gaze, and his jaw tightened ever so slightly.

“Gina…” His voice was low, a mixture of concern and frustration.

“I know,” she interrupted gently, her fingers brushing against his. “I promised I’d be careful. And I will. Alexander has no idea about my connection to you. I’ve made sure of it.”

But even as she spoke, Gina couldn’t ignore the unease gnawing at her. She had planned everything—every word, every glance—to keep Alexander from suspecting her closeness to Sean. Yet seeing the sudden stillness in Sean’s expression now made her wonder how long he could bear it.

“Sean, you trust me, don’t you?” She asked, her voice softer, almost a whisper.

His gaze softened slightly, his fingers tightening around hers. “It’s not you I’m worried about, Gina. It’s him. Alexander… He’s not the kind of man you can predict. Not the kind you can easily manipulate.”

Gina’s smile returned, a touch of steel behind it. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not planning to manipulate him. I’m just finding out the truth.”

Sean didn’t say a word, his silence a heavy weight that kept Gina on edge. His gaze remained fixed ahead, unreadable, a quiet storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.

Just when she thought the silence would stretch forever, he spoke—his voice calm but firm.

“Okay,” he said, a hint of resolve in his tone. “But our men will follow you in disguise. I can’t disappoint the Lady Boss when it comes to protecting her dear friend’s life.”

Gina’s tension melted, replaced by a soft, playful smile. Her eyes sparkled with warmth, and she leaned closer, her arms slipping around his neck.

“Okay… that’s negotiable,” she whispered, her voice a teasing purr.

Sean’s composure wavered, his lips curving into a smirk as his hands found her waist. His gaze dropped to her lips, lingering there, a familiar heat flaring between them.

Just when things were getting real—when Sean slowly leaned in, his hand brushing against her cheek, and their lips were a breath apart—Gina’s phone buzzed.

The moment shattered.

Both of them paused, a sigh of frustration escaping Gina as she pulled back and glanced at her phone. A new message lit up the screen.

She turned it toward Sean.

“He texted me the location.”

Sean’s expression darkened as he read it, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.

Gina studied his face, sensing the storm behind his silence. She knew Sean still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of her meeting Alexander—much less trying to get close to him. But they both understood: this was their best shot at unmasking him, at discovering the truth hidden beneath all his charm and power.

“This is the only way,” she said gently, her thumb grazing his hand.

Sean nodded stiffly. “Just be careful. Don’t let him see too much. And don’t go in blind.”

“I won’t,” she promised. “And you’ll have your eyes on me the whole time.”

A muscle twitched in Sean’s jaw, but he said nothing more. Whatever protests he had, he swallowed them—for her.

***

Back inside the building, the buzz of the office welcomed Lilac as she stepped out of the elevator and into the bright, open space. She barely had time to settle into her chair when the door opened and Winter walked in.

Despite having seen each other earlier at the hospital, Winter couldn’t shake the concern swirling in her chest. She needed to check in—about Sylvester, about the situation with Roger, about everything.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Winter said, closing the door behind her.

“Not at all,” Lilac smiled, already guessing what this was about.

“Grandpa didn’t show up—if that’s what you were going to ask,” Lilac said, settling back in her chair. “But… I’m sure he will. Give him an hour, maybe less.”

Winter pursed her lips, a sense of awkwardness washing over her as silence lingered for a moment.

“Grandpa isn’t someone who can stay away from us for too long,” Lilac continued, her voice softer now. “As much as he regrets what he’s done, he also knows he can’t live without checking in on how his eldest grandson is doing.”

There was a quiet conviction in her tone, one that came from understanding rather than bitterness.

Winter studied her for a moment, noticing the subtle shift in Lilac—how she no longer spoke of Sylvester with exasperation but with acceptance.

“You’ve come to terms with it,” Winter murmured.

Lilac gave a small nod. “I have. I used to think he was being unreasonable. Possessive. Overbearing. But then I asked myself… If I were in his shoes, would I have acted any differently?”

She let out a light, almost self-deprecating laugh.

“Honestly? I probably would’ve been worse. More annoying. More dramatic. But at the end of the day, all of it would’ve come from one place—love for my family.”

Winter smiled faintly, her gaze softening. She could see it now—how maturity and empathy had reshaped Lilac’s view of their grandfather. And maybe, in some way, it was shaping all of them.

“I guess we’re all learning to meet each other halfway,” Winter said quietly.

“Yeah,” Lilac agreed. “And Grandpa will, too. Sooner than you think.”

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Sylvester stood just outside Roger’s ward, his hand hovering over the doorknob, yet unable to turn it.

After ensuring Rita and her family were taken care of and having Richard relocated to the Rosewood Mansion, he had finally made his way here. He had been receiving regular updates from the doctors—Roger was stable, recovering—but a part of him needed to see it for himself. Not just to confirm Roger’s physical well-being… but to face the weight of his own guilt.

For years, Sylvester had been the commander of his grandchildren’s lives—dictating their choices, planning their futures, all under the belief that he knew what was best.

Kalix and Lilac were the ones who pushed back, unyielding in their defiance. But Roger… Roger had been the quiet one. The obedient one. The one who followed orders, never questioning, never resisting.

And that’s exactly where Sylvester had failed him.

He had been so blinded by Rita’s deception, so convinced by the lies she wove, that he forced Roger into shouldering a burden that was never his to carry. All because Sylvester believed what was shown to him on the surface rather than digging deeper for the truth.

Now, with the truth unraveling and Rita exposed, Sylvester stood at the edge of that realization—one that stung more than any confrontation ever could.

He had failed Roger not out of malice, but out of arrogance. And that, perhaps, was harder to forgive.

Drawing in a steady breath, Sylvester finally wrapped his fingers around the doorknob.

It was time to face the consequences.

Bracing himself, Sylvester finally turned the doorknob and stepped into the room.

The soft rustle of movement greeted him—Lily was seated by the bed, gently feeding Roger pieces of fruit. The atmosphere was calm, almost fragile, like a moment suspended in time.

Roger noticed him immediately. The fruit remained midair, halfway to his mouth, as his eyes locked onto Sylvester’s. There was no anger in them, not yet. Just silence. Heavy, loaded, and watchful.

Lily’s gaze flicked toward the door, her hand subtly lowering the fork as she followed Roger’s line of sight. Her expression tightened in quiet caution, sensing the tension as soon as Sylvester entered.

No words were exchanged. Not yet. But the weight of everything unsaid settled into the room like a shadow.