Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Why did you bring me here

Kalix had no idea how long he had been asleep, but the damp sensation on his face stirred him awake.

As his senses adjusted, a familiar voice reached him, urging him to wake up. However, it was the continuous, warm licking against his skin that finally jerked him up.

“Oh, Daddy, why do you sleep so soundly?” Seren’s voice carried a tinge of annoyance, but it wasn’t her words that caught his attention—it was the tiny creature wagging its tail in excitement beside her.

“Who’s this?” Kalix’s hoarse voice made Seren momentarily forget her earlier frustration, her lips curling into a wide smile as she eagerly introduced her new friend.

“This is Flash,” she announced proudly.

“Flash?” Kalix repeated, his brow arching in amusement.

“Yes! Because he runs fast, so his name is Flash!” Seren explained matter-of-factly.

A quiet chuckle rumbled through Kalix’s chest before he reached out, lifting the fluffy dog into his arms. Flash responded by rolling onto his lap, shamelessly basking in the attention like a spoiled pet.

“Ahem.”

A sudden throat-clearing made both Seren and Kalix glance toward the doorway.

Winter stood at the threshold, her expression unreadable as she took in the scene before her.

“Breakfast is ready,” she said, her voice cool and controlled.

Kalix caught the seriousness in her tone, but before he could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away.

***

The breakfast table was quiet.

Seren, oblivious to the underlying tension, was too busy stuffing her mouth with toast to notice anything amiss. Winter, on the other hand, barely touched her food, sipping her juice in silence.

Kalix found her unusual distance unsettling. His eyes drifted to the bandage wrapped around his hand, the memory of the previous night flashing in his mind. He held back from pushing her to speak, recognizing the weight of their unspoken words.

But when he recalled Winter’s reaction to his questions about Eric, his expression darkened. She hadn’t answered him outright, but her hesitation had spoken volumes, fueling his fury toward the man.

Breakfast ended without further conversation, and soon after, they left the penthouse.

Kalix and Winter dropped Seren off at school, and just as Winter prepared herself for another day at the office, she noticed something unusual.

This wasn’t the route to work.

Her gaze snapped to Kalix, who sat beside her, seemingly indifferent to her questioning stare. He remained engrossed in his tablet, flipping through something with an air of detachment.

The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally spoke.

“Where are we going?”

Kalix finally looked at her then, his gaze unreadable. But before she could press further, the car slowed, pulling up to a gated property.

Her breath caught as she recognized the towering structure ahead.

A mansion.

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. It wasn’t just any mansion—it was his family’s home.

Her eyes flickered to the nameplate at the entrance, and she felt her pulse quicken.

“Why would you bring me here?” she demanded, unable to comprehend his intentions.

Kalix’s response was calm but firm. “Because we need answers.”

Without another word, he stepped out of the car, leaving her with little choice but to follow.

Winter had never imagined setting foot inside Kalix’s familial home. The mere thought of it sent unease rippling through her. And yet, here she was.

The mansion was a masterpiece of sleek design—clean lines, open spaces, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that invited natural light. The minimalist aesthetics, infused with smart home technology, exuded wealth and power. Artistic accents blended seamlessly with the sophisticated ambiance, making the entire place feel modern yet imposing.

As they entered, a voice rang out.

“Kalix!”

Dianna was the first to notice him, a welcoming smile on her face. But the moment her gaze landed on Winter, her expression faltered.

Winter clenched her fists at the sight before her—a family gathered around the breakfast table, their conversations halting as they took in the unexpected visitors.

Some looked at them with curiosity. Others, with outright disdain.

Kalix, unfazed, tightened his grip on her hand, his fingers sliding smoothly between hers before intertwining them.

“Would you mind if we joined you for breakfast?” His voice was polite, yet the underlying edge in his tone was impossible to miss.

Winter stiffened, her gaze snapping to him in surprise.

Kalix, however, didn’t give her a chance to protest. He pulled a chair out for her, his actions commanding rather than requesting.

Unease coiled in her stomach as her eyes darted around the table.

Slyvester sat at the head, his displeasure evident. Across from him, Lilac offered Winter a small, reassuring smile—a stark contrast to the cold hostility radiating from Dianna and the woman seated beside her.

Winter’s gaze finally landed on the man at the end of the table—his features bore a striking resemblance to Kalix, but his deep ocean-blue eyes, framed by sleek glasses, set him apart.

Tension thickened in the air.

Kalix, unfazed by the atmosphere, spoke again, his voice smooth yet laced with an unspoken challenge.

“I apologize for arriving uninvited, but this was necessary.”

Winter swallowed.

She had no idea what Kalix intended to do here, but something about the way he carried himself—the quiet dominance in his posture, the controlled power in his words—felt dangerous.

And she had a feeling this visit was about to change everything.

“What is all this, Kalix? Why would you bring this woman here?”

Slyvester finally broke his silence, his tone dripping with displeasure.

Kalix’s eyes darkened, but to everyone’s surprise—especially Winter’s—a malicious smile lingered on his lips.

“Yesterday, Star almost lost her life,” he said suddenly, his voice slicing through the air like a blade.

The color drained from Slyvester’s face as his eyes immediately filled with concern.

“What happened to Seren? Is she alright?” he demanded, for once showing no restraint.

Lilac, too, looked distressed, her gaze darting to Kalix in anticipation of an answer.

“Thankfully, Stanley saved her,” Kalix said, his tone deceptively calm. “But he claims the person who almost hit her approached with an ulterior motive.”

His piercing gaze swept across the room, lingering on each person before stopping at Dianna and Rita.

“He was assigned to harm her… or should I say, to scare her. Am I right, sister-in-law?”

A sharp intake of breath filled the silence.

Winter’s head snapped toward Rita, her eyes widening in shock. The woman visibly paled at Kalix’s words, her composure slipping.

“W-Why are you asking me?” Rita stammered, her voice laced with feigned outrage. “It’s not like I know your daughter or this woman.”

The disdain in her words toward Winter didn’t go unnoticed.

Kalix, however, remained unbothered, his focus shifting to Dianna.

“You might not know her,” he mused, “but Dianna does. Am I right, Dianna?”

Dianna’s lips trembled. She shook her head quickly, her fingers clenching in her lap.

“No, I don’t,” she denied, but the hesitation in her voice gave her away.

Kalix nodded, as if thoughtfully considering her words.

Roger, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

“Kalix, what exactly are you trying to say?” His tone was firm, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.

Roger was unaware that Winter had been working at J&K International, but Kalix’s direct accusations toward Rita had piqued his curiosity.

Kalix tilted his head, a slow, calculated smirk forming.

“How about we bring the man here,” he suggested, “and ask him to disclose the name of the person who hired him?”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Dianna and Rita visibly stiffened. The blood drained from their faces, their palms damp with sweat. The prospect of exposure sent shivers down their spines.

But it wasn’t just the truth that terrified them—it was the aftermath.

Kalix was not a man to be trifled with. He was brutal, ruthless, merciless.

And the thought of what he would do once he had proof of their betrayal made their very souls wither in fear.

A call went through, Kalix speaking in a low, cold voice before hanging up.

Moments later, heavy footsteps echoed through the grand hall.

Stanley walked in, dragging the same man who had nearly shoved a bike into Seren the previous day.

The man stumbled, his body barely holding up as he limped on one leg. His face was swollen, bruised, evidence of the consequences he had already faced.

Rita swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to the beaten man, her unease growing.

Stanley shoved him forward, making him collapse onto the floor with a painful grunt.

“Please… let me go,” the man sobbed, his voice thick with desperation.

Winter’s sharp eyes flickered toward him, taking in his disheveled clothes—the same ones from yesterday.

Then, her gaze landed on the leather jacket.The eagle symbol.

Her breath hitched.

‘It’s him.’

“It’s him,” she said, her voice firm, cautious as she glanced at Kalix.

Kalix gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable.

“Yes, it’s him,” he confirmed, his tone deceptively calm. “And now… he will say the truth.”

Before anyone could react, Kalix pulled a gun from his pocket.

The metallic gleam of the weapon sent a ripple of tension through the room.

“Or,” Kalix’s voice dropped, deadly and cold, “be ready to die.”

He pointed it directly at the trembling man on the floor and

BANG!