Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: I was worried
Sylvester noticed the growing distance between Roger and Rita after that day. Though he didn’t want it to happen, he knew he couldn’t push his grandson any further than he already had.

While Rita tried her best to get Roger’s attention, he remained unmoved, continuing to ignore her.

“Why are you insisting on going to work when you can barely walk?” Sylvester’s voice cut through the morning, drawing everyone’s attention to Lilac. She, however, remained unfazed, calmly continuing her breakfast.

It was surprising to see his granddaughter, who always resisted his authority when it came to work, defying him now in the opposite way. The change was unexpected—but also concerning. She didn’t seem to care about the pain she was putting herself through.

“You should be happy that I’m being responsible, Grandpa,” Lilac said bluntly. “Besides, I don’t want to stay in the house. I feel suffocated.”

Her dismissive tone made Sylvester’s temper rise, but he held back. He knew exactly what she meant. Still, moving out and living independently wasn’t an option for her just as it hadn’t been for Kalix. But Kalix, being as stubborn as ever, had ignored his words and chosen to live alone.

Ignoring her defiance, they finished the rest of breakfast in silence. When Roger finally stood up to leave, Rita quickly followed, trailing after him like a shadow.

Everyone’s eyes flicked to her retreating figure, and Lilac chuckled.

“Is she his butler now?” she quipped.

Sylvester shot her a sharp look, and she playfully gestured as if zipping her lips shut.

Meanwhile, outside, Rita stopped Roger midway.

“Roger, wait!” Her desperate voice made him halt, though he turned to her with a furious look.

His eyes narrowed in confusion, but her next words piqued his curiosity.

“Can you drop me off at Kalix’s office? I heard Winter is working there,” Rita said cautiously.

Roger frowned, wondering what she was up to now.

He knew Rita wasn’t an easy person to read. She had layers, ones he was slowly beginning to unravel. She could be manipulative at times, bending people to her will with carefully chosen words. And now, bringing up Winter so suddenly, he couldn’t help but feel wary.

He might have overlooked it before, but given how he had already warned her once, he wondered if it was the same reason.

“I have a meeting to attend. You can take another car,” he said curtly before walking away.

Rita stood there, stunned, watching as Roger’s car disappeared beyond the gates. Her hands curled into fists, and her teeth clenched in frustration.

“Tsk, tsk. Such a shame to be ignored by your husband.”

Rita’s expression darkened as she snapped her gaze toward the person beside her.

Lilac grinned, glancing at the gates before shifting her attention back to Rita, who was fuming at her taunting remark.

“But haven’t you brought this on yourself?” She chimed, her voice laced with amusement, further fueling Rita’s anger.

Lilac had never liked Rita or her sister. They were nothing more than opportunists. But watching them now, tasting the bitterness of their own medicine, brought her a sense of satisfaction.

Rita didn’t say a word and simply ignored Lilac.

“Driver,” she called out before stepping into another car and quickly driving away, leaving Lilac smiling in amusement at her reaction.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Lilac turned to head toward her own car when she suddenly noticed another vehicle making its way inside. Her brows knitted in confusion as Stanley stepped out.

He stopped in front of her, his expression unreadable.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone surprised yet distant.

Stanley sighed, noticing the coldness in her voice. “Master called me. He wants me to take you to the office and drive you back home.”

Lilac’s expression darkened, and she immediately refused. “Don’t bother. I can manage just fine,” she said, turning to leave.

But Stanley blocked her path.

“I can’t go against his orders. So…” he trailed off, giving her a knowing look that only made her grit her teeth in frustration.

“That old man…” she muttered under her breath before yanking Stanley’s hand away. Dragging her sprained foot, she made her way to his car while he silently followed, ensuring she got inside. Soon after, he slipped into the driver’s seat, started the car, and drove out.

***

Lilac ignored Stanley completely, her focus buried in her phone, engrossed in something he had no clue about.

“Why didn’t you pick up my calls last night?” he asked, hoping to get her attention.

When she didn’t respond, he abruptly snatched the phone from her hands.

“What the hell, Stanley?! Give me my phone back!” she yelled, reaching out to grab it, but he swiftly shoved it into his pocket, leaving her stunned.

“First, answer me. Why didn’t you pick up my calls?” His eyes bore into hers, serious and unrelenting.

Lilac huffed, looking away. She wasn’t in the mood to argue and just wanted peace. But he refused to back down.

Stanley grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

Lilac glared at him, her lips pursed and her cheeks puffed in frustration.

Stanley had been patient with her, but her stubbornness was testing his limits. Unable to stand it any longer, he pulled the car to the side of the road.

He didn’t release her, his grip firm but gentle as he made her face him.

“I was worried about you,” he said, his voice softer now. “I just wanted to know if you had taken your medicine.”

Lilac’s expression softened at the tenderness in Stanley’s eyes. His hand slowly released her chin, moving to cup her face, his thumb brushing gently against her skin. The warmth of his touch melted away her anger in an instant.

But then his words from before resurfaced in her mind—how he had refused to acknowledge her feelings. The reminder sent a fresh wave of resentment through her, and she abruptly yanked his hand away.

“Why do you care?” she snapped. “It’s not like I’m allowed to tell you everything happening in my life.”

Stanley’s expression darkened, his heart constricting at her words. He shouldn’t let it affect him, but it did.

He might have denied her, said things that hurt her. But only he knew the weight of the facade he maintained in front of her.

Lilac turned away, refusing to look at him, while he sat in silence, staring at her. Eventually, he gave up on trying to get through to her. With a heavy sigh, he restarted the car and pulled back onto the road.

Lilac kept her gaze fixed outside, counting the minutes, hoping the journey would end soon. But when she recognized the familiar streets outside the window, her head snapped toward him.

They weren’t heading to the office.

Just as she was about to question him, Stanley pulled up in front of the same store she had visited yesterday. He shifted in his seat and turned to look at her.

“Buy me my gift.”

“…”