Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: I’m glad I finally saw the real you

“I came to meet Grandpa,” Eric said, brushing off Winter’s brooding stare while maintaining his composed demeanor.

Winter scoffed, finding his words amusing. Eric’s persistence in meeting her grandfather raised several questions, but she decided not to bring them up—at least, not unless he was here with an ulterior motive.

“Then I guess you should go and meet him,” Winter said, turning to leave. But Eric stopped her.

“Winter, can we talk?” His words pulled her attention back to him, a deep crease forming between her brows.

“See? I wasn’t wrong,” she said, piercing through his facade with a knowing look, arms crossing over her chest.

“You’ve been far too persistent in trying to talk to me, Eric. But are you sure your fiancée knows? Because the last time we met, she threatened to pluck my eyes out just for looking at you.”

Eric’s expression twisted with shame. “I’m sorry for her behavior,” he apologized.

Winter let out a dry chuckle. “I would be happy if it were just her. But since you’re both equally at fault, I still won’t consider it.”

She had no intention of dwelling on his words, nor would she forgive his betrayal. He was just like the kind of man she despised with every fiber of her being.

“I know you’re upset about what happened, but I had my reasons. Just let me explain—”

“I no longer dwell in the past, Mr. Spencer,” Winter cut him off coldly. “And I suggest you do the same, now that you have a fiancée.”

Without waiting for his response, she turned to leave.

“Who was that man you left with the other day?”

Eric’s abrupt question made her stop in her tracks.

His fists clenched tightly at his sides as he watched her turn back to face him. His eyes brimmed with anger, but he remained composed.

“That’s none of your business, Mr. Spencer,” Winter stated in a blank, unreadable tone.

A slow, malicious smile curved Eric’s lips.

“Now I understand,” he sneered, stepping closer.

Winter frowned, confused by the glint in his eyes.

“You always pretended to be so pure,” he mused darkly, his voice laced with mockery. “But in reality, you crave men, don’t you?”

Pak!

The sharp sound of Winter’s slap echoed through the empty corridor, leaving Eric stunned.

“You think everyone is like you—deceitful and unfaithful,” she snapped, her palm still tingling with the impact. “I’m glad I finally saw the real you.”

Eric’s eyes darkened with fury. “You… how dare you slap me?”

“Just as you dared to question my character, Mr. Spencer,” Winter shot back, unflinching. “And if you don’t want people to discover the truth you’ve managed to hide all these years, then stay out of my life.”

Her warning cut deep, leaving Eric with nothing but seething humiliation.

“You—” His anger surged as he grabbed her arm tightly, his grip unforgiving.

“I won’t forget this, Winter,” he warned, his voice low and threatening.

Winter felt a flicker of fear, but she refused to show it. She stood strong, meeting his furious gaze with unwavering defiance.

After a tense moment, Eric yanked his hand away and stormed off, his rage trailing behind him.

Reaching the parking lot, Eric stopped in front of his car and slammed his fist against the hood, his anger boiling over. The sting of Winter’s slap still burned on his skin, fueling the fury raging inside him.

“I’ll find out who that man is, Winter,” he sneered, his reflection staring back at him through the car’s window, his eyes dark with obsession. “I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

With one last glare at his reflection, he yanked open the driver’s side door and sped off, his grip on the wheel as tight as the resentment simmering within him.

After spending some time with Byron, the mother-daughter pair returned home. However, Winter was surprised to find that Kalix had not yet returned.

Noticing her curious glances, Butler James spoke up. “Master will be returning late, Madame,” he informed her before shifting his gaze to Seren, who was cradling a tiny companion in her arms.

“And who is this new friend, young Miss?” James asked, intrigued. It was unusual to see the little girl so invested in something, though he wanted to examine the creature before bringing it inside.

Seren looked up at James in confusion—she had yet to decide on a name.

“Mommy, what should we call him?” she asked, seeking her mother’s help.

Winter blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She hadn’t thought of a name either, but then an idea clicked in her mind.

“How about Flash?” she suggested, recalling the puppy’s tiny, energetic steps as he played with Seren.

Seren’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yes! He is Flash!” she declared, turning to introduce the pup to James.

James smiled at her enthusiasm. “How about we clean Flash up and get him checked first?” he suggested.

Seren eagerly nodded. “Please be careful with him. He’s so small,” she pleaded, her voice filled with concern.

“I will be careful, young Miss,” James assured her before shifting his gaze toward Winter.

With a knowing smile, he walked away, carrying Flash with him, while Winter and Seren headed to their room.

After freshening up, the pair had their dinner. While Seren opted to do her homework, Winter stepped out onto the balcony to call Gina.

***

“How dare he accuse you like that?” Gina was furious at Eric’s cheap remark about Winter.

“Don’t worry, he got a slap in return for his mocking words,” Winter assured her, though Eric’s warning still lingered at the back of her mind.

“He deserved that,” Gina sneered through the call.

Winter sighed, retreating from her thoughts with a weak smile. She hadn’t expected Eric to think so wrongly of her, but then again, what else could she expect? A man who so easily flipped on his words was not someone she could ever trust again.

He had shattered her trust enough times that no matter how much he tried to bridge the distance between them, nothing would ever come of it.

“So, when is your shoot?” Winter asked, steering the conversation away.

She was genuinely happy for Gina and couldn’t wait for her to shine again, now that she had finally found solid footing to back up her modeling career.

“Oh, so you found out,” Gina’s voice dimmed, causing Winter to frown slightly.

“I wanted to surprise you,” she added, her words making Winter smile as she relaxed.

“You know I work there now, so it’s hardly possible for me not to know anything. But I’ll still pretend to act surprised,” Winter teased.

The two friends burst into laughter, their conversation stretching on for nearly an hour. By the time Winter hung up, Seren had also finished her studies.

“Mommy, when will Daddy come?” Seren asked, her innocent eyes filled with curiosity.

Despite James informing her that Kalix would return late, Winter still found herself wondering what was keeping him out for so long. It was already late, and yet there was no sign of him whatsoever.

“Daddy is working and will return late,” Winter answered with a gentle smile. Without further questions, Seren nodded, curling up beside her mother. Within moments, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Winter, however, remained skeptical. What was taking Kalix so long? Though the thought nagged at her, exhaustion soon took over, pulling her into slumber as well.

It was past midnight when Winter suddenly felt a hand brush against her face. Alarmed, her eyes snapped open.

Her breath hitched as she found herself staring at a familiar face. But as the haze of sleep cleared, something clicked in her mind.

She turned her head slightly to the side—and her heart nearly stopped.

Kalix’s hand was bleeding.

“What the f—Kalix, you’re bleeding!” she gasped, sitting up in shock.