Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: That’s enough
“You think I’m jealous?” Kalix asked, pointing at himself.

Winter shrugged, feigning indifference as she turned back to the screen. “I never said that,” she muttered, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Kalix scoffed, feeling like he was being toyed with and yet, she wasn’t even playing the game right.

“He doesn’t even stand a chance. So there’s nothing to be jealous about,” he snorted, finding it laughable that she would even dare to compare him to that donkey of a man.

Winter smirked. “Look who’s talking about jealousy now,” she pointed out, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Kalix’s frustration only deepened. He could tell she was getting back at him for all the pranks he’d pulled on her, but if it gave her a sense of victory, so be it. In the end, none of it mattered. She was his. No one else even stood a chance.

Without another word, he watched as she focused on the file he had asked her to revise. But then, a message pinged, drawing both their attention.

Winter’s fingers stilled as her eyes briefly skimmed over the words on the screen. Before she could fully process them, Kalix snatched the laptop from her hands.

“That’s enough. I’ll take it from here,” he said abruptly, rising to his feet and retreating to where he had been sitting earlier.

Winter blinked, confusion flickering across her face. His behavior was strange, which left her wondering.

‘What was he hiding?’ she frowned.

Kalix felt Winter’s gaze on him. He knew he had reacted too abruptly, but he couldn’t risk her seeing what was written in that email.

He would never let her know that he had been threatened, especially not when it was about something he had every right to uncover. The warnings had come time and time again, not just from his enemies but even from Sean. Yet, he wasn’t ready to back down. Not until he found the people responsible for his parents’ deaths.

“Lucky girl, but I can’t guarantee for how long. If you want her to live as long as you wish, step back.”

Kalix’s eyes darkened, and his fists clenched. So he had been right. The person behind Winter’s attempted abduction was the same one trying to keep him from the truth.

Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone from the side table and strode out onto the balcony, his movements sharp with urgency.

Winter watched him, her brows furrowing at his reaction. The tension in his shoulders, the way he had stormed off, it all screamed that something wasn’t right. And if Kalix thought she wouldn’t notice, he was dead wrong.

Taking the opportunity, she quickly moved to his laptop, her fingers hovering over the trackpad. But as soon as she opened his inbox, her stomach dropped.

The email was gone.

“He deleted it,” she muttered, a frown creasing her forehead as her eyes flicked toward the balcony.

She could see him standing there, his back to her, phone pressed to his ear.

Winter wouldn’t have normally cared enough to pry. But lately, everything about Kalix, his actions, and his secrecy—was starting to get under her skin. And no matter how much she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was haunting him… was now starting to haunt her too.

***

Inside the restaurant, Gina shot an annoyed glare at Sean, who was once again glued to his phone talking to none other than his boss.

For once, she had hoped Kalix would spare him, let them enjoy a peaceful meal without interruptions. But of course, fate had other plans. The second the jinx played its game, Kalix swooped in, seizing Sean’s attention yet again.

Her man.

Gina froze, her own thoughts catching her off guard.

When had that happened?

The realization hit her out of nowhere, making her tense. She had always been attracted to Sean, sure but claiming him, even in her mind, felt dangerously real. And that unsettled her.

“I’ll look into it, Boss. Don’t worry,” Sean said, his tone calm but firm as he took mental notes of Kalix’s instructions.

A moment later, he ended the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

Gina exhaled, her irritation lingering. “Let me guess—crisis number one hundred and fifty?” she muttered, arms crossed.

Sean smirked, shaking his head. “Something like that.”

“And now you’re leaving?” Gina asked, arching a brow in displeasure.

Sean noticed her annoyed expression and shook his head. “No. I promised you a meal, and I won’t leave until we finish it.”

Gina’s irritation quickly melted into something softer, and without another word, she resumed eating.

“So, what’s the crisis? Care to share?” she asked, glancing at him curiously.

“Nothing too serious,” Sean replied, brushing it off.

But Gina wasn’t convinced. She had caught the subtle shift in his expression when he had answered Kalix’s call. Something had definitely happened.

Deciding to switch tactics, she leaned forward slightly. “What’s your deal with Kalix? How did you two meet? Are you friends, relatives, or something else?”

It was something she had always wondered. Apart from being Kalix’s most trusted man, she knew next to nothing about Sean.

Sean paused, as if considering his answer. Then, a small smile played on his lips. “You could say I’m both his friend and his relative.”

Gina frowned. “That’s confusing. I don’t mind if you don’t want to answer, but don’t go making it sound like a riddle,” she teased, pretending to be offended.

Sean chuckled lightly. “I was adopted by Kalix’s parents. His mother found me on the streets as an infant, and since then, I’ve lived under their care.”

Gina’s breath hitched, her expression sobering. His words pierced through her like a blade.

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-” she started, but Sean only smiled, cutting off her apology.

“It’s rare for someone to ask me about my life. I don’t usually interact much with people. But you’re an exception, Miss Gina,” he said smoothly, his eyes twinkling with something unreadable.

Gina’s heart skipped a beat. She had expected him to brush her off or get irritated, but instead, he had answered her with surprising openness.

She had always seen him as responsible, kind, and well-mannered. A man who carried himself with quiet strength and unwavering loyalty. Not only was he respectful, but beneath the composed exterior, he also had a deeply compassionate heart.

Sean’s gaze remained steady on her. “What about you, Miss Gina? What’s your story? Apart from being close to Miss Winter and Lily, is there anyone else in your life?”

His question caught her off guard. Gina hesitated, not because she had anything to hide, but because it wasn’t often that someone truly cared to ask.

Unbeknownst to her, Sean already knew the answer. He had run a background check on her before stating she was raised by her maternal grandparents, who had also passed away due to incurable disease.

At twenty, she had tried her luck in modeling, moving to another city, working tirelessly until she had carved a name for herself in the industry.

Bold, beautiful, and fiercely independent, she had built a life on her own terms. But more than that, she was a sincere and loyal friend to Winter and a devoted godmother to Seren.

For the first time in a long while, Gina found herself wondering if there was someone in her life she could truly call her own.

Gina rarely spoke about her past. There was nothing good to remember, nothing worth revisiting. It wasn’t as sweet as the life she had built now, and she had no desire to dwell on the shadows she had left behind.

“I’m sure you must have run a background check on me before accepting my profile,” Gina muttered, attempting to brush off the question.

Sean immediately caught the shift in her tone. The playful spark in her eyes dimmed, her smile faltering as she looked away.

Gina had always been bold, flirtatious, and outspoken, never one to hold back her words. But now, as she deliberately evaded the subject, Sean found himself unexpectedly intrigued.

Still, he knew better than to pry.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t something she wanted to discuss. And out of respect, he let it go.

For now.

The duo finished their lunch and stepped out of the restaurant, the air between them lighter than before. But just as they were about to part ways, Gina suddenly turned.

“I wasn’t lying when I asked you to go out with me,” she said, her voice steady.

Sean halted mid-step, his eyes snapping to hers. His thoughts spiraled.

Was this another one of her playful pranks? A tease meant to throw him off balance? But as he studied her expression, something inside him shifted.

Gina smiled, taking a slow step closer. She could see the shock on his face, the way he was still processing her words, and it made her want to push him further, just a little.

“But this time, I want to be sincere with you,” she murmured, stopping right in front of him.

Sean’s brows knitted as he searched her face. He had seen Gina try to intimidate him, flirt with him, and push his buttons at every chance she got. But this…this was different.

She wasn’t playing this time.

“I don’t know for how long,” Gina admitted, her voice softer now, “but I want to know you better, Sean.”

For once, she wasn’t hiding behind sarcasm or mischief. And for the first time, Sean wasn’t sure how to respond.

It took Sean a moment to gather his thoughts before he let out a small smile.

“And I don’t do flings. So… I’m sorry, but I have to reject you.”

Gina stood frozen, the words hitting her harder than she expected.

For the first time in her life, she was being rejected and by the one man she had actually confessed to.

She had expected him to be surprised, maybe even flustered. But rejection? That had never crossed her mind.

“So, I’ll take my leave now,” Sean said, his voice calm, almost unaffected. Without another glance, he turned, got into his car, and drove off.

Gina remained rooted to the spot, her mind reeling.

She had never faced rejection before. And yet, as she watched Sean disappear down the road, all she could think about was how much she suddenly wanted to change his mind.

Sean’s eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, catching a final glimpse of Gina’s figure as she stood frozen in place. A slow, knowing smile tugged at his lips.

“You need to be serious, Gina,” he murmured to himself. “Because once I step in, I go all in… and there’s no turning back.”