Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Did I ignore my child’s wish
Outside the Rosewood Mansion, a man dressed in black paced back and forth on the lawn, chanting to the Holy God to preserve his soul from being ripped from his body by none other than the devil’s incarnation.

He knew he was counting down to his death sentence the instant he betrayed him. Soon, he would be consumed and reduced to ashes by the very man to whom he had dedicated his life.

“Holy Mother of God, please save your child. This is a heartfelt desire. I don’t want to die so soon.” He cried, kneeling on the soft grass, hands clasped in desperate prayer.

“Geez, Sean, why do you have to be so dramatic?” Stanley, the head bodyguard, leaned against the car with his arms crossed, scowling at his over-the-top companion. “Why bother God when you’re the one who failed to see through deception?”

Sean halted and cast an uneasy look at Stanley. “Do not interrupt me. If you’d warned me sooner, I’d have devised a strategy. You betrayer, how could you push me into the sea of crocodiles?” He sobbed, wiping away his imaginary tears.

Stanley silently rolled his eyes. Scratching his forehead, he waved him off, only to straighten up when the mansion’s main doors opened and Kalix stepped out.

Sean froze like a statue while Stanley quickly moved to open the car door.

Kalix cast a cold glance at Sean before getting into the car.

Thud!

The door slammed shut, pulling Sean out of his trance. He had expected conflict, but the man simply ignored him. Yet that didn’t stop him from sensing his already deteriorating mood.

“Are you planning to kneel forever? Quick, get up if you want to live to see another day,” Stanley muttered before heading to the driver’s seat.

Sean jolted up and scrambled into the front passenger seat.

***

The drive to the penthouse was silent. Kalix had decided to rest, and Sean found himself reveling in the unexpected peace—until the icy voice shattered it.

“How did Grandpa learn about Seren?”

Sean groaned internally. There went his temporary reprieve.

Stanley smirked at Sean before refocusing on the road.

Sean wanted to wipe that smirk off his face but had to deal with the devil first. His mind raced for an answer, but all he managed was a frozen expression before he burst into dramatic sobs.

“Boss, I swear I had no idea Elder Master was investigating us! I thought he was just visiting the company as usual, but he threatened me.”

Sean shuddered, recalling how terrifying the old man could still be. No wonder he remained a force in the underworld.

“And you told him everything?” Kalix’s voice was calm, but the weight of his gaze made the hairs on Sean’s back stand up.

“I—I had no choice,” Sean stammered, head bowed, tears still flowing.

If only they didn’t know his tears were fake—just an escape tactic to avoid Kalix’s wrath.

Kalix watched him for a few seconds before turning away. If it had been anyone else, they would have lost their head by now, but knowing how much Sean admired the old man, Kalix couldn’t even bring himself to reprimand him.

Kalix leaned his head back. “Did you find out who called the attack on Byron?”

Sean immediately stopped crying, wiping away the tears as he sat up to report.

“The driver is still on the run. The CCTV footage from the highway was corrupted. Our tech team is still working on retrieving it.”

Since Byron’s accident became public, Kalix had been meticulously investigating. He had promised the old man his help and, in return, would secure Winter’s hand in marriage. But things weren’t going as planned. Winter refused to comply, complicating matters further.

“Keep looking. There has to be a clue somewhere,” Kalix instructed before falling silent.

His plan had been set, but his grandfather’s interference had ruined everything.

***

[The Grayson Mansion]

“It’ll take years to get rid of that old man,” Dorothy grumbled, sipping her drink.

David remained silent while Agnes attempted to console her mother.

“But what now? Do we just hand our lives back into his control now that he’s alive?” She huffed, her frustration apparent. She turned to her father, her voice turning into a whine. “Dad, you know how much trouble he causes! Eric is always working and barely has time for me.”

Dorothy shot her daughter a sharp look. Their entire future was at stake, and she was complaining about not spending time with her so-called fiancé?

“That man deserves it because he chooses to obey orders. If he didn’t, how do you think you would survive without money?” Dorothy snapped, making Agnes shudder.

The Byron family had never fully accepted David and Dorothy’s marriage, but his vow to his late wife had prevented complete rejection.

Agnes felt a shiver run down her spine at her mother’s words. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing her luxurious life.

“No, that cannot happen. Dad, you have to do something,” she cried, panicked at the idea of losing everything.

David took a deep breath and prepared to leave when his phone rang.

“Boss, we have a problem,” his assistant informed him, turning David’s expression grim.

***

[Hotel Room]

Winter had barely slept. Seren’s words haunted her all night.

She never thought her usually indifferent daughter would long for a family. Someone who had never mentioned her father had suddenly requested one.

It had always been just the two of them. But now that she thought about it, she recalled the longing in Seren’s eyes whenever she saw a happy family—a father, mother, and child.

Had she ignored her child’s silent wish? Had she been foolish to believe they were enough without room for anyone else?

When Winter had discovered her pregnancy, she never blamed anyone. Sleeping with a stranger had been her choice. But she had worried—how would she raise a child alone while barely making ends meet?

Then Byron had found out and provided support, refusing to let her child suffer for her decisions. That was when she vowed never to give up. She sought stability, eventually securing a job in finance with the help of a friend. It paid enough to support her and Seren, despite Byron’s constant attempts to provide more.

She had refused his offers, wanting to stand on her own. For three years, she paid her own rent before moving in with Gina, whose home was closer to Seren’s playgroup.

Life had been peaceful. They had been happy. But coming here had changed everything.

Her grandfather had nearly died, and the culprit was still unknown.

Winter sighed heavily, trying to clear her mind and think rationally.

Then her phone rang.

She reached for it and answered sharply. “Hello, Mr. Grayson. What do I owe the honor of being remembered by you?”

The iciness in her voice didn’t waver, but his next words shocked her to the core.