Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Chapter 57:You can’t distract me like that,
“I might be brutal in my actions, but trust me, Angel—there’s a sanity that comes with you. You tame the beast in me,” Kalix murmured, his breath warm against her skin. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his grip tightening around her curves as if grounding himself in her presence.

“But if it still scares you,” he continued, voice softer now, “then I’ll never let you see that side of me.”

Winter’s heart fluttered at the raw honesty in his words. Slowly, almost instinctively, she tilted her head, granting him silent permission.

“I’m trying, Angel,” he whispered, pressing a lingering kiss against her pulse. “To be the father our daughter needs. The man you deserve. And I promise—I’ll be that man someday.”

Heat rushed through her body, scattering her thoughts. Her fingers slipped into his silky hair while her other hand clutched his on her waist, steadying herself against the storm of emotions he ignited within her.

Kalix kissed her neck, his lips teasing, nibbling at her skin.

But then—something clicked. A cold realization.

Winter tensed and abruptly pulled away.

Kalix frowned, confusion flickering in his gaze as she stepped back. Before he could say anything, she reached for his hand, carefully bringing it between them.

Her eyes darkened as they landed on the bandage wrapped around his knuckles.

“How did you get this?” she demanded, her voice firm. “And why were you drinking?”

Kalix let out a low chuckle, the tension snapping in an instant. But as quickly as his amusement came, it faded. His gaze lifted back to hers, unreadable, almost calculating.

“I’ll tell you,” he said, voice edged with challenge. “But only if you answer my question first.”

Winter’s frown deepened. She knew Kalix never played fair—especially when it came to her.

She let go of his hand and crossed her arms over her chest, meeting his gaze head-on.

“What do you want to know?” she asked, her tone edged with challenge.

Kalix’s lips curled into a smirk, intrigued by the sheer strength she exuded. She was the only woman who dared to hold her ground, never attempting to flatter him with sweet words.

Feisty.

“Everything we talked about last night,” he said, his towering 6’4″ frame casting a shadow over her.

Winter narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t know anything, Mr. Andreas?”

A man who had been visibly offended just by her ex being around now feigned ignorance about what had transpired between them. It was a foolish act of pretense.

Kalix’s expression darkened, but the gentleness in his eyes remained.

“Do you still like him?” he asked, his voice low and measured.

Winter frowned, caught off guard by the question.

She could tell he was keeping himself composed, but his words twisted something deep inside her. It wasn’t love that stirred—she had buried those feelings for Eric long ago. It was the betrayal, the scars he had left on her heart, that still lingered.

“I don’t,” she answered without hesitation.

“Now tell me—how did you get this cut?” she asked, seizing the moment now that he had gotten his answer.

Kalix, however, wasn’t finished. He took a step closer, his presence almost suffocating. “Did he touch you?” he asked, his voice dangerously low.

Winter gaped at the intensity in his gaze, her lips parting in surprise.

Kalix knew exactly what Eric was trying to do. His constant lurking, his sudden reappearance—it was all evidence that he was trying to pull Winter back into his life.

“The man who followed you to the café—he was hired by Eric,” Kalix revealed.

Winter’s breath hitched. His words left her completely stunned.

All this time, she had assumed it was her father’s doing. But Eric?

“You thought that after seeing you leave with me in the car, he would let it go, didn’t you?” Kalix continued. “But instead, it only made him more curious about who you were with.”

“That son of a bi—” Winter scoffed at her own stupidity, but then a realization struck her.

“Did he find out about us?” she asked sharply.

“No, he didn’t. Thanks to Hayes, who chased him off. Since then, he’s been trying to be careful,” Kalix shrugged, his words laced with an air of indifference.

The day Winter had told him about someone following them, Kalix had immediately ordered his men to track the guy. It had been a moment of negligence on his part, allowing himself to be exposed.

But since then, the tables had turned. Kalix’s men had made sure the spy never got close to Winter again, shutting down any chance Eric had of keeping tabs on her.

Still, Winter found it infuriating how Kalix remained so calm despite knowing that the man was lurking, feeding Eric information. Just the thought of that scumbag made her blood boil.

“I should confront him! How dare he hire someone to spy on me? That piece of shit, how dare he—”

Winter’s words suddenly died on her lips.

Everything clicked into place.

Eric’s sudden visit to the hospital.

“You seem to have quite the eager ex, Angel,” Kalix drawled, breaking her train of thought. “Do you still want to keep him interested?”

Winter’s gaze snapped toward him, his words sending a shiver of caution through her. But beneath his usual coldness, she could sense the concern laced within them.

“I don’t care what he does,” she huffed, crossing her arms. “But I swear, next time I see him, I’ll slap him more than twice and kick his balls so hard he won’t get to reproduce.”

Kalix let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by her outburst. This was exactly the kind of fire he enjoyed seeing in her. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.

Winter stiffened at first, startled by the sudden embrace, but the warmth of a gentle kiss pressed to her temple made her relax.

“You can’t distract me like that, Kalix,” she muttered, his name rolling off her tongue without thought.

Kalix stilled, caught off guard.

It was the first time she had called him by his name.

A slow smile spread across his lips, the delight evident in his gaze.

Winter, on the other hand, tried to ignore the way her heart somersaulted inside her chest. She forced herself to stay composed, focusing on her original demand.

“You still haven’t answered me,” she said, trying to sound stern, though the slight stammer in her voice betrayed her.

She waited for him to speak.

Kalix clicked his tongue. “Tsk, maybe some other time,” he teased, flashing a wink before stepping away and settling into his executive chair.

“…”

Winter’s eye twitched.

‘Did he just trick me again?!’

Her glare drilled into him from across the room, but Kalix only chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.

Without another word, she turned on her heels and stormed out of the office, leaving Kalix laughing in his seat.