Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Hold your horses, Angel
“What do you mean he couldn’t find her? And now her number is unreachable too?” Dianna snapped, fury crackling in her voice.

The manager had informed her that Winter had left the site, and when she followed up with Agnes, she confirmed that the assigned driver had accepted Winter’s pickup request. But now he was claiming he couldn’t find her anywhere?

“What kind of useless man did you hire, Agnes? He can’t even complete a simple task!” Dianna seethed, her patience wearing dangerously thin.

“Hang up before I vent my anger on you!” she yelled before abruptly ending the call.

Agnes stared at her phone, momentarily stunned. Then fury surged through her. With a sharp exhale, she slammed the device onto the bed.

“That bitch! How dare she talk to me like that? Did she forget she was the one who came begging for my help?” She fumed.

But before she could spiral further, the driver’s words replayed in her mind. Her anger dissipated, replaced by a gnawing curiosity. Where was Winter?

Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Dianna returned to her seat, forcing an awkward smile at the clients who had been waiting patiently for Kalix.

She had been instructed to arrive first, but Kalix’s prolonged delay left her uneasy.

“Dianna,” one of the clients spoke up, his tone edged with impatience. “How much longer will Mr. Andreas take? It’s been thirty minutes, and he still hasn’t shown up. Are you sure he hasn’t changed his mind about this meeting?”

A flicker of doubt crossed her mind. Just where was Kalix?

“Just give me a moment,” Dianna excused herself, about to call Kalix when she noticed Sean approaching them.

Her eyes flickered with confusion as she searched for Kalix, but to her surprise, he was nowhere to be seen.

“I apologize for the delay, Mr. Callford,” Sean said smoothly.

The clients exchanged puzzled looks, expecting Kalix himself.

“I’m sorry, but the boss had to leave due to an emergency,” Sean continued. “However, he asked me to continue the meeting on his behalf.”

Callford smiled in understanding, but Dianna, who had been eagerly anticipating her time with Kalix, felt as if she had been slapped.

Her expression darkened, and she clutched her phone so tightly it threatened to break.

“Miss Dianna, please join the meeting,” Sean’s voice snapped her out of her fury.

Quickly masking her displeasure, she returned to her seat, though the storm in her eyes hadn’t completely settled.

Sean, however, had noticed. And though he remained impassive, he knew well enough she had brought this upon herself.

***

After two hours, Kalix and Winter finally reached home. However, he refused to let her go, carrying her effortlessly as he stepped inside the house.

“You’re treating me like a baby,” Winter muttered, her cheeks turning pink at the thought of being cared for by Kalix.

“I don’t mind doing that as long as I know you’re safe,” he replied smoothly, making her blush even more.

Butler James, who had noticed the couple’s arrival, quickly rushed over, his expression filled with concern.

“What happened to Madame?” he asked, his eyes immediately landing on the blood staining both of Winter’s knees.

“James, call the doctor and prepare some herbal tea for Madame. Bring it to my room,” Kalix ordered without hesitation.

Winter gaped at the extremeness of his concern and quickly interjected.

“Butler James, stop,” she said firmly, halting the older man in his tracks and leaving Kalix momentarily confused.

“There’s no need to call the doctor. I’m perfectly fine; these are just minor scratches,” she assured them before shifting her focus. “Where is Star? Is she already in bed?”

James hesitated before nodding. “Yes, Madame. Young Miss is already asleep.”

A sense of relief washed over Winter, but before she could fully relax, she felt Kalix’s intense gaze on her.

“What?! Don’t look at me like that; just take me to the room,” she demanded, leaving Kalix momentarily surprised by her boldness. However, he didn’t ignore how red her ears had turned when she said those words.

Without another word, he complied, carrying her straight to his room.

***

Kalix helped Winter settle on the bed before quickly turning to fetch the first-aid kit.

“I need to shower,” Winter said, stopping him in his tracks.

She felt filthy. Her clothes were stained with mud, and every muscle in her body ached after the ordeal. Running from that man had left her not just shaken but also in desperate need of warmth and comfort.

Kalix gave her a perplexed look before slowly nodding.

Winter considered asking him to take her to her own room, where she could clean up in peace. But the thought of disturbing Seren made her hesitate.

“Can you ask someone to bring my clothes?” she whispered, barely meeting his gaze.

Kalix paused for a moment, as if reading deeper into her request, before giving a slow nod. Without another word, he turned on his heels and stepped out of the room to bring the clothes himself.

Winter remained still, her gaze lingering on the door long after he left.

The way he had appeared right on time, in the right place, played over in her mind. He had come for her, saved her.

Yet, one thought refused to leave her.

How did he know exactly where to find me… when I never told him anything?

Winter quickly snapped out of her thoughts and attempted to stand, but the sharp pain in her knees sent her collapsing back onto the bed.

“What the hell? Why can’t I even stand?” She muttered, staring at her legs in shock.

A wry smile tugged at her lips as a ridiculous thought crossed her mind.

“Don’t tell me my body wants to be carried by Kalix all the time now.”

Despite the lingering relief she felt upon seeing Kalix, her mind kept circling back to the man she had barely escaped from.

What was his purpose? Why did he try to abduct me?

Her thoughts swirled with unanswered questions when suddenly, the door opened, and Kalix stepped back inside, holding her nightclothes.

Winter’s eyelashes fluttered, and she quickly looked away. She had hoped to shower before his return, but her body refused to cooperate. Now, she had no choice but to ask for his help.’But how?’

Kalix, however, immediately noticed her hesitation. The way she bit her lower lip and the slight furrow of her brows, he knew exactly what she was struggling with.

Before she could even muster the words, Kalix placed her clothes aside and, without hesitation, scooped her up once more.

Winter’s breath hitched as he effortlessly carried her toward the bathroom, leaving her momentarily stunned.

“…”

Kalix set Winter down on the tiled seat next to the bathtub before straightening up. Without hesitation, he reached for his coat and shrugged it off.

“W-what are you doing?” Winter gaped as he casually loosened the first two buttons of his crisp white shirt. A pervert thought crossed her mind and she gulped.

Her breath caught when he smirked, rolling up his sleeves to his elbows with practiced ease and leaning closer to her.

“Hold your horses, Angel,” he drawled, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Don’t let those perverted thoughts embarrass you.”

Winter blinked, her lips pressing into a thin line as she stared at him in bewilderment.

“I know you have malicious thoughts about me,” he murmured, his voice teasing and dangerously low. “But don’t worry. I won’t touch you… unless you ask me to.”

The mischievous grin he flashed made her heart lurch, her pulse hammering against her ribs as she couldn’t stop pondering over his words.