Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Boss, there is a message

Winter’s pen hovered over the file in front of her, but she hadn’t written a single word in the past ten minutes. She could feel the weight of his gaze pressing into her like a physical force, burning through every layer of composure she had carefully built.

Her fingers tightened around the pen before she finally sighed, snapping the file shut.

“Is this all you’re going to do now?” She asked, lifting her head to meet Kalix’s unwavering stare. “Just sit there and watch me?”

Kalix didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. His expression remained unreadable, but the intensity in his eyes made her skin prickle.

“Who said I’m just watching you?” He corrected smoothly, leaning back in his chair with a lazy smirk. “It’s called admiring, Angel. Remember, I told you I would observe you attentively.”

Winter exhaled sharply through her nose. Never in her life had she felt such an overwhelming urge to punch someone. Unfortunately, with the way Kalix was built—tall, strong, and exuding an air of indifference—her knuckles would probably suffer more than his face.

“If you’re going to be like this,” she said, standing abruptly, “then it’s better if I leave. Us being alone together could raise suspicions.”

Kalix arched a brow, still lounging in his chair as if her words held no weight. His silence was heavier than words, stretching between them, thick and suffocating.

Winter hesitated. She hated that he had this effect on her—that his gaze alone could hold her in place like invisible chains.

“You friend Gina,” Kalix finally said, breaking the silence. “I hired her as our model.”

Winter blinked in surprise, momentarily thrown off.

Gina?

She knew Gina had been looking for a solid agency—one that wouldn’t terminate her contract over petty reasons—but she hadn’t realized her friend had approached J&K International.

“That’s great,” she muttered, still processing.

“That’s it?” Kalix leaned forward, amusement flickering in his gaze. “I thought you’d appreciate me with a kiss.”

Winter let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Don’t flatter yourself. Besides, I know my friend’s talent speaks for itself. Gina didn’t get where she is by luck.”

Kalix hummed in agreement, his fingers drumming against the desk. Then, before she could react, he reached for her wrist and pulled her into his lap.

Winter gasped, struggling in his hold. “Kalix! What are you—?”

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine.

“Why did you cry earlier?” he murmured.

Winter froze.

She had nearly forgotten about that moment—how Kalix had caught her in a vulnerable state, tears slipping down her face. At the time, he hadn’t pressed for answers. But now, he was demanding them.

She hesitated before muttering, “It was nothing. I was just happy for Star.”

Kalix pulled back slightly, his dark eyes searching hers.

“You expect me to believe that?”

Winter’s throat went dry. She could see something in his gaze—something gentle, something that made the moment between them dangerously intimate.

“Why did you never approach me?” she asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.

Kalix stiffened.

“You said you were watching over me and Star for as long as you can remember,” she continued, her voice steady. “Then why didn’t you ever come forward? Why now?”

Silence.

Winter watched as his jaw clenched, his mind debating whether or not to tell her the truth.

“I wasn’t sure you wanted me,” he finally admitted.

She inhaled sharply, his words catching her off guard. There was a gleam of sadness in his eyes, one that made her stomach twist.

“Did you never think about claiming your daughter?” She asked, voice quieter this time. “You wanted to take Star away the day we met, but then you never brought it up again. Why?”

She had been terrified that day—when Kalix, a man she barely knew, had spoken about taking her daughter. And yet, since then, he hadn’t made a single move in that direction.

Kalix lowered his gaze. “I never wanted to take Star from you,” he admitted. “But your rejection triggered me, and I ended up saying something I didn’t mean.”

Winter’s breath hitched.

He regretted it.

But more than that, he looked… remorseful.

“I’m sorry for saying that,” he added, his voice softer than she had ever heard it.

Winter swallowed.

For years, she had wondered about the man from that night—the man she had spent hours with, the man who had unknowingly given her a daughter. Despite her heartbreak back then, she had never regretted it. But she had always been curious.

“You still haven’t answered my question,” she pressed. “You had a chance to come for us all these years. Were you just waiting for the right time?”

Kalix exhaled, lifting a hand to brush a strand of hair from her face.

“What do you want to know?” he murmured.

Winter hesitated. His touch sent an unexpected warmth through her body, but she kept her guard up.

“Did you already fall for me back then?” she asked. “Is that why you wanted to claim me in a way I couldn’t refuse?”

Kalix’s lips twitched, amusement flickering in his eyes. “You can say that,” he said. “But let me correct you. It was long before I fell in love with you, Angel.”

Her brows furrowed. “Long before?”

Kalix simply shrugged.

Winter’s lips pressed into a thin line. She slapped his arm lightly. “You can’t joke about things like that, Kalix.”

“I never joke, Angel,” he said, his tone serious.

Before she could push him for answers, the door suddenly swung open.

Winter startled, her body still awkwardly perched on Kalix’s lap.

Sean…

The man froze mid-step, eyes wide in disbelief.

Kalix sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Have you forgotten your manners, Sean?”

Sean blinked rapidly before quickly stepping back out. A few seconds later, there was a hesitant knock.

“Come in,” Kalix called, smirking as Winter struggled in his hold. But he didn’t let her go.

Sean re-entered, clearly uncomfortable but determined to deliver his message.

“Boss, there’s a message,” he said.

Kalix’s grip on Winter immediately loosened.

Winter noticed the way his expression shifted—his entire demeanor turning sharp and cold.

“You can get back to work, Winter,” he said, his voice distant.

She frowned, sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, but didn’t argue. She stood up, smoothing her clothes before leaving the room without another word.

The moment she was gone, Kalix turned his attention back to Sean.

“Show me.”

Sean handed over his phone, the screen displaying an email from an unknown sender.

“Stop looking for answers. You won’t ever find them.”

Kalix’s jaw tightened.

“Did you trace the ID?”

“I tried,” Sean said, frustration in his voice. “But no luck. As usual.”

Kalix leaned back in his chair, his expression dark.

“He’s watching us,” he muttered. “Which means he knows what we’re trying to uncover.”

Sean shifted uncomfortably. “Boss… last time, we ignored his warning and he tampered with your car’s brakes. If we keep pushing—”

He hesitated.

“If we keep pushing, we might not be lucky next time.”

Kalix’s fingers curled into a fist.The past was closing in on him. And whoever was pulling the strings… they were getting desperate. But so was he.And he would not back down.Not now. Not ever.

“Let us see how far he goes this time,” Kalix’s words pierced the air, catching Sean off guard. He was aware that his boss embraced risks, yet a sense of concern lingered within him.

“As you say, Boss.” With that, Sean pivoted and exited the office.

****

Meanwhile outside, Winter was unable to shake off the memory of Kalix’s behavior from earlier. There was something about that moment that made her feel strange about his coldness.

‘Why do you care about how he treated you earlier?’ Winter’s subconscious whispered, a haunting reminder of her steadfast resolve to maintain her defenses.

Winter seemed poised to come to an end, yet an unsettling feeling lingered, prompting her to ponder the circumstances surrounding him. Nevertheless, she chose to refrain from deep contemplation and instead focus her attention on her tasks.

“I need to finish this before Dianna gets upset with me,” she muttered and started reviewing the files.

“Wait a second-” Winter frowned when she noticed the loss the company faced after a project cancellation, which involved Greyson International.

Something swirled within and suddenly she remembered Kalix’s words from yesterday.

‘Was this the thing Kalix pointed at?’ She doubted herself, her thoughts disorganized.

Suddenly, the telephone on her table rang, and Dianna’s blunt voice came through. “In my office, now.”

Winter flinched the second the line went blank. Overwhelmed with worry, she quickly stood up and rushed to Dianna’s cabin, and as soon as she stepped inside, Dianna suddenly fell down and screamed.

“Ah!…”

Winter was taken aback, yet Dianna’s scream pierced the air, seizing a lot of attention. Sean, heard the noise and quickly rushed inside.

“Miss Dianna, what happened?” Winter attempted to approach her, but she just screamed.

Why did you push me, Winter? What wrong have I done? I only asked you for the reports,” Dianna complained, wincing as she held her ankle. Those tears in her eyes were so deceptive that even Sean sneered.

Winter,, on the other hand, observed intently as she performed her act. She should’ve known Dianna’s intention towards her ever since she mocked her before.

“Then explain to me how I pushed you when I am still standing at a distance, while you are lying next to your table.” Winters words sent ripples through Dianna’s act, causing her to fumble on her words.